By Sixtine Berquist, Global Education in Emergencies Analyst at IIE
There are 68 million displaced persons world wide and only 1 percent have access to higher education.
These are the often-recited statistics of the global forced displacement crisis. While important, they miss a key point – why higher education accessibility matters.
With the average length of displacement today lasting approximately 26 years, displacement is no longer a transient state. This leaves many university aged persons without the resources to reach higher education. Attention has been given to the disparity in humanitarian aid as many universities and organizations worldwide have committed to helping bridge the accessibility gap through funding and advising services. Still, it is critical to note that supporting vulnerable students does not only support the student. Universities, their campus, and their student body greatly benefit from supporting students from diverse and vulnerable backgrounds.
To show the holistic power of higher education, IIE PEER worked with Bard College Berlin, a member of IIE’s Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis, to create a series of videos showcasing how diverse education access has affected their campus and student body.
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Why Higher Education Matters to Bard College Berlin
Student Testimonial: Karam Alhamad
Student Testimonial: Wafa Mustafa
Student Testimonial: Anas Al Maghrabi
This post was originally published on Sixtine’s LinkedIn page. Follow her for similar articles.