Social inclusion of refugees is more than granting access to a university: a brief message to academic leaders in host countries

Abstract

ABSTRACT The high number of displaced people in the world has led to many challenges for refugees, including the interruption of their academic careers. This, coupled with anti-refugee rhetoric and strict immigration and integration policies in host countries, has exacerbated the exclusion of refugees from academia. Higher education institutions have special responsibilities to realise the social inclusion of minorities, including refugees. While the entire academic community can play a role, the onus is primarily on academic leaders such as chancellors, rectors, deans, and heads of departments, and their deputies to create a genuinely inclusive academic environment. These key figures should at least realise that granting access is only one step in realising the social inclusion of refugees into higher education. In this commentary, I highlight some actions academic leaders can take to facilitate the social inclusion of refugees into academia.