Higher Education Considerations for Refugees in Countries Affected by the Syria and Iraq Crises
UNHCR’s mandate is to provide protection and assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and others of concern, and to find solutions for them. As part of its actions to meet these protection and solutions responsibilities, UNHCR considers it a priority to ensure that refugees have access to educational opportunities at all levels, including higher education. One of the key objectives of UNHCR’s Education Strategy (2012-2016) is to “Improve access to higher education opportunities for refugee young people” by increasing opportunities for refugee youth to benefit from higher education programmes at colleges, universities and postsecondary technical, vocational or para-professional institutions, leading to certificates and diplomas.