Celebrating the University of Sanctuary* campus visit day
In April the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton held their third joint Refuge and Asylum Seeker Day. 137 learners came from across Sussex including students and staff from East Sussex College Group, Chichester College Group and the Sussex Virtual Schools. The day is part of the ongoing work of the universities and colleges to support refugee background students to progress with their education.
The day started at Sussex with a general introduction to HE, information about funding followed by small group tours of the campus led by some fantastic student ambassadors. After lunch students went to the visit The University of Brighton’s Moulsecoomb campus which gave a good contrast between a campus university and a city-based university. Following a talk on how to apply for university with some questions around admissions, University of Brighton ambassadors took students in groups to a Q and A session with the opportunity to ask about specific issues such as overseas qualifications and levels of English.
Participants described the benefits of the day as “Making going to university real”, “a positive way to help us students to get to know what they want in the future”, “a beneficial thing for me as an advisor and for students is to have lots of information and further clarity and reinforcement on entry requirements.” “To be able to talk directly to people who work at university. To say this is who I am”.
The University of Sussex’s Widening Participation team have worked with Refugee Education UK to develop a film for refugees and asylum seekers looking to apply to university. The film is recommended to share with learners and advisors exploring pathways for refugees and asylum seekers to Higher Education.
For further information, the following organisations provide support and guidance for refugee and asylum-seeking families and individuals:
Refugee Education UK
Offering refugee and asylum-seeking children and young people more hopeful futures through education. Services offered include mentoring, information, advice and guidance and dedicated higher education access support, as well as training for university staff.
Sanctuary on Sea
Brighton and Hove's City of Sanctuary Group. City of Sanctuary is a national network, a movement of local groups made up of businesses, community organisations and individuals, all with one thing in common; their belief that sanctuary seekers should be welcomed, and that their contribution to society should be celebrated.
For more information about the day or to speak to someone about supporting a refugee background learner into Higher Education, please contact Emilie de la Nougerede at the University of Sussex or Amy Adams at the University of Brighton.
* In Sussex the University of Sussex and Chichester are Universities of Sanctuary and Chichester College Group have applied to be a College of Sanctuary.