At the end of 2023, there were 117.3 million people forcibly displaced across the world.
As a University of Sanctuary, we work collaboratively to create a welcoming, open environment for students arriving at Bath from war-torn parts of the world. We do this with other universities, our Student’s Union, our local University and College Union (UCU) branch, and our staff and students.
The event held on World Refugee day explored the work we're doing to improve refugee and asylum-seeking students' experience in higher education in the UK. We heard from a panel of academics, scholars who have faced forced migration, and from people in our community who help those arriving in Bath seeking sanctuary.
Forcibly Displaced Students in Higher Education
Dr Katharina Lenner, Dept of Social & Policy Sciences, gave insight into the work of the GW4 Network: Forcibly Displaced Students in Higher Education. The alliance (between universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter and Cardiff, and soon UWE) generates research-informed innovations to improve forcibly displaced people's access to and experience of Higher Education. This includes enhancing practices through interdisciplinary research, supporting transition into and out of the GW4 universities and offering personal tutoring and support systems. Katharina spoke about the significant barriers and demoralising experiences of rejection refugees face, especially asylum seekers who are restricted from seeking paid employment. The University runs initiatives to work with these barriers, as an employer, facilitator and educator for other employers.
Student Action for Refugees
Shreeja Srikanth, Board trustee of Bath Student Action for Refugees (STAR) gave an overview of the work Bath STAR is doing. The organisation aims to support all refugees and asylum seekers in our local community and nationally, through volunteering, fundraising, and campaigning on surrounding issues. Shreeja and her team recently spent time canvassing local businesses to ‘Lift the Ban’ on employing asylum seekers, resulting in 12 sign ups from local companies. They also offer UCAS mentoring, tutoring and IT sessions for students.
Local support
Alice Herve from local volunteer led organisation Bath Welcomes Refugees talked about the vital work her team do, working directly with refugees and asylum seekers to offer friendship and a warm welcome. From offering employment advice and help with the language, to setting up homes and welcoming families with a hot meal, they offer a wide range of services to help people settle into their new lives here in Bath.
First-hand experiences
Last year, the University enrolled our first ever UG scholar. Electrical Engineering student Aram Elbadian is an asylum seeker from Ukraine. Despite threats of Home Office deportation during his GCSEs, he went on to complete his A-levels and secure the grades to gain him a place at Bath.
Unfortunately, as an asylum seeker the law prevented him from opening a bank account or accessing student loans, which led to him having to defer starting his course two years running. While waiting for this situation to change, he enrolled on a tiling course. He did so well on his course that he was put forward for a national tiling competition that he won that year and again the following year. When he got the call last year about his scholarship, Aram described the feeling as like “winning the lottery” for him and his family.
Warm Welcome PHD Scholar, Mir Miri was forced to seek refugee from his home country Afghanistan twice in his life – first in Iran as a child, and now here in the UK. Mir recently took part in Finding Home in Education, a two-day participatory arts workshop held in February at King’s College London.
Mir said: “University of Bath has been a sanctuary of belonging to me. Education is one of the most powerful tools to create that sense of belonging, sanctuary, home. A safe space where people are heard, valued, have a voice and can contribute.” Read more about Miri’s journey.
Panel Chair Imroze Sahota, Student Support & Safeguarding, said:
It was great to see so many people attend the event. We will continue to strive to make Bath a place that is understanding towards the needs of refugees and asylum seekers, is welcoming to them and provides opportunities through a range of initiatives.
Professor Jane White, Vice-President (Community & Inclusion), said:
It was incredibly moving to hear from two refugees and to learn more about the work we and the wider community are doing to welcome students and families from war-torn countries. Going forward, we are hoping to build on this fantastic base, looking at what we can do to directly impact asylum seekers and refugees, making sure we promote, encourage and grow our capacity where we can.