UK Higher Education Humanitarian Group

The Group works to advance, coordinate and catalyse support for forcibly displaced academics and students across UK higher education.

Chaired by King's College London and the University of Edinburgh, the group has representatives from across UK universities and sector groups, including the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and Universities UK International.  

Key priorities

 

  • Connect key organisations and universities in supporting access and pathways to higher education for forcibly displaced students and academics.
  • Accelerate action in the UK higher education sector contributing to the global compact target of fifteen per cent of refugees accessing higher education by 2030 (UNHCR).
  • Support sustainable planning, knowledge sharing and exchange across UK higher education with regard to forced displacement of academics and students.
  • Provision of support and strategic advice with regard to challenges around access for those forcibly displaced in accessing higher education and sector responses to humanitarian emergencies.
     

Addressing a global challenge

Over 100 million people across the world are forcibly displaced. Amongst those forcibly displaced are talented scholars and academics. Unable to continue their studies, research careers or access higher education, the world risks losing their knowledge and contributions forever. The UK higher education sector has a proud tradition of supporting those forcibly displaced due to conflict, violence or persecution and has a leading role to play in responding to this global challenge.

Co-chairs

  • Dr Leonie Ansems De Vries, King's College London
  • Alan Mackay, University of Edinburgh

Members

  • United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)
  • Council for At-Risk Academics (Observer)
  • Universities UK International
  • Refugee Education UK
  • Catherine Gladwell, Refugee Education UK
  • Professor Hari Hundal, University of Dundee
  • Katie Barringer, Refugee Education UK
  • Funmi Olonisakin, King's College London
  • Rachel Sandison, University of Glasgow
  • Joanne Jacobs, University of Manchester
  • Aleks Palanac, University of Leicester
  • Andonis Marden, University of Oxford
  • Professor Linda Morrice, University of Sussex
  • Dr Nick Gill, University of Exeter
  • Sarah Harder-Collins, University of Winchester
  • Anna Dukes, Cardiff Metropolitan University
  • Zeid Al Bayaty, The Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara)
  • Jhumar Johnson, Open University
  • Simon Meacher, University of Newcastle
  • Gary Morton, University of Newcastle
  • Stephanie Wauthier Albrand, The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
  • Dan Webb Refugee, Education UK
  • Dr Jonathan Birtwell, King's College London
  • Lydia Nyachieo, Refugee Education UK
  • Ghazal Sarah Salehi, University of Oxford
  • Rhiann Holloway, The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
  • Professor Joanna McIntyre, University of Nottingham
  • Maryam Taher, Universities of Sanctuary
  • Professor Michael Scott, University of Warwick
  • Professor Virinder Kalra, University of Warwick
  • Sarah Hoey, University of Edinburgh
  • Miranda Thomas, Universities UK International
  • Melissa Matar, King's College London
  • Matt Foster, The Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara)
  • Anouf El-Daher, Universities UK International
  • Professor Joanna Newman, SOAS University of London

Email: humanitarian.group@ed.ac.uk

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