EADTU conference OOFHEC2017 at the Open University, Milton Keynes UK.
The presentation talks about possibilities and challenges of using e-learning in order to facilitate access to higher education for vulnerable groups, especially refugees.
E-learning can be a very useful instrument to break down barriers and improve the life’s quality of people who don’t have any future because of war, conflicts, socioeconomic problems or humanitarian crisis. E-learning enables to study in the worst conditions, even when students are on the move, as long as the students are provided by internet connexion and a computer or an electronic device.
The UOC's experience with the scholarships programme for refugees is a good example of this.
Currently, the UOC is running a pilot scholarship programme in order to allow refugees to study and palliate the situation of those living in refugee camps. There have been two calls for applications this year: one of them was last February and the second one was in September. The UOC awards 61 scholarships in all (languages and specialization certificates).
At the first call, there were Syrian students who were living in refugee settlements in Greece but some of them were on the move during the course. In September, the University have offered specializations in the fields of nutrition, health, development cooperation, humanitarian aid, translation, marketing and quality management.
This pilot test allows us to identified some challenges and opportunities of e-learning for refugees and asylum seekers.
Challenges: Focus of action, access and recognition, language, psychosocial approach, cultural aspects, participation and motivation, connectivity and technology, virtual platform limitations, security and data protection, non segmented educational incorporation, funding sources.
Opportunities: breaking inequality and right for education, building a project of life, leaving the camps, offering useful and quality programmes, incorporating gender perspective, working with local organizations, community engagement: volunteers, online university as an integration place: mentorship, global and social student abilities and social media.
9. ✓ E-learning as a
complement of face-to-
face university system
✓ E-learning allows to
access to quality higher
education despite
disabilities, family
responsibilities or job
✓ Social impact of E-
learning
11. Definition:
“The intentional process of
integrating an international,
intercultural or global dimension
into the purpose, functions and
delivery of post-secondary
education, in order to enhance the
quality of education and research
for all students and staff, and to
make a meaningful contribution to
society.”
Internationalisation of Higher Education. EU Directorate-General
For Internal Policies. IP/B/CULT/IC/2014-002 (July 2015)
17. Rethinking the universities’ role
✓ Universities are not a NGO.
✓ This crisis is a Human Rights matter.
✓ Avoiding a lost generation.
✓ Building shelter cities and a new welcoming culture.
✓ Beyond the humanitarian emergency: long-term
initiatives:
18. Scholarships Programme for Refugees
● Pilot test
● 2 call for applications: in February and
in September 2017
● Specializations and languages
● 61 scholarships in all
21. E-learning challenges
✓ Focus of action
✓ Access and certification
✓ Language
✓ Psychosocial approach
✓ Cultural aspects
✓ Participation and motivation
✓ Connectivity and technology
✓ Platform limitations
✓ Security and data protection
✓ Non segmented educational
incorporation
✓ Funding sources
22. E-learning opportunities
✓ Breaking inequality & Right
for Education
✓ Building projects of life
✓ Leaving the camps
✓ Offering useful and quality
programmes
✓ Incorporating gender
perspective
✓ Working with local
organisations
✓ Community engagement
✓ Online university as an
integration place:
mentorship
✓ Global and social students
abilities
✓ Social Media
