UNIMED has learned several lessons from its experiences addressing refugee challenges through projects like RESCUE and inHERE. First, a one-size-fits-all approach does not work due to the complexities, and universities must play a major role in harmonizing educational paths and addressing secondary education quality to avoid social exclusion. Second, actions are needed in countries sending refugees to reduce pressure on host communities and rebuild higher education systems affected by crisis. Third, institutional efforts must be better integrated across projects and research to design effective community actions. Fourth, support is required not just for refugee students but also academic staff abroad and in host institutions through shared research and capacity building.

1. UNIMED experiences on refugees thanks to
RESCUE and inHERE: understanding
complexities

2. UNIMED’s lessons learnt from experience in
addressing refugees challenges
RESCUE
inHERE
One size cannot
fit all, in terms
of scholarships
and local
answers
Lack of reliable
data and
statistics
No negation of
complexities
Terminology
definition:
Refugee? IDPs?
Guests?

3. Lesson learnt number one: the need to
harmonise educational paths
Lack of access to Higher
Education by refugees
Risk to have a «lost
generation» and related
need to improve the quality
of education for youth (6-12
and 12-18)
Avoid the risk of social
exclusion and improve the
quality of educational paths
for both refugees and local
communities. Social
exclusion is the basis for
radicalization
Universities in the region
must plal a major role in
this sense addressing also
the quality of secondary
education and contributing
in improving it

4. Lesson learnt number two: the need to
enhance actions in «sending countries»
Not only Syria, but also other crisis contexts (such as Yemen and Libya) must be addressed
Huge need in rebuilding the quality of local Higher education system higly affected by war and crisis
Reduce the pressure on local hosting communities

5. Lesson learnt number three: the need to
integrate institutional efforts
Enhance cooperation with
other projects (HOPEs) and
improve research on these
topics in the UNIMED
network (The manifesto on
Social Science)
Try to design
effective CB actions
by relying on project
experts (MERIC-NET
project)
Improve the
horizontal
dimension of
efforts trying to
find common
grounds for
cooperation

6. Lesson learnt number four: not only
students, but also Academic Staff
Address the needs of
Academic staff abroad
in order to improve
their capacities for
providing them new
skills
Promote shared
research projects with
local hosting
institutions in
Neightbourhood
countries through a
win-win system
Help Higher education
Institutions is sending
countries in re-start
their activities and
contribute in re-define
the future of the
country

7. For more information and questions
m.didonato@uni-med.net