Refugees Welcome? - Recognition of qualifications held by refugees and their access to higher education in Europe - country analyses

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Jacob

Refugees Welcome? examines how refugees’ qualifications are recognized and how access to higher education can be secured across Europe. It links education to human rights and public good principles, arguing for rights-based, inclusive approaches rather than fear-driven narratives. The study compiles country analyses detailing obstacles such as undocumented prior learning, unknown qualifications, and incomplete recognition instruments. It highlights advocacy needs for student unions, supports civil society and human rights actors, and points governments toward improving existing initiatives.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages96

Reading Time4 h 2 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Introduction

Country Reports

Higher Education Opportunities for Refugees in Flanders

“We can do it” - Refugees and the German Higher Education System

Refugees in Norwegian academia – access and recognition of qualifications

Country report Romania

Integrating Refugees in European Higher Education – A Comparison of Four Case Studies

About the Editors and Authors

IMPRINT REFUGEES WELCOME? Recognition of qualifications held by refugees and their access to higher education in Europe – country analyses Brussels, April, 2017 By European Students’ Union (ESU) . EDITORS Jens Jungblut International Centre for Higher Education Research (INCHER) University of Kassel Karolina Pietkiewicz European Students’ Union (ESU) AUTHORS Lukas Eckhardt University of Kassel Jens Jungblut INCHER, University of Kassel Karolina Pietkiewicz ESU Isabel Steinhardt INCHER, University of Kassel Martina Vukasovic Centre for Higher Education Governance Ghent (CHEGG), Department of Sociology Ghent University Robert Santa Researcher PROOFREADING Beth Button Daniel Waugh This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. IMAGE CREDITS [www.pexels.com](www.pexels.com) PRODUCTION Daniel Waugh COPYRIGHTS European Students’ Union Brussels, April 2017 This research was supported by a grant from the Open Society Foundations (OSF) . The opinions contained herein reflect the views only of the authors. TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 LĪVA VIKMANE INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 KAROLINA PIETKIEWICZ COUNTRY REPORTS Higher Education Opportunities for Refugees in Flanders................................................................................... 12 MARTINA VUKASOVIC “We can do it” -Refugees and the German Higher Education System................................................................25 ISABEL STEINHARDT AND LUKAS ECKHARDT Refugees in Norwegian academia – access and recognition of qualifications................................................... 43 KAROLINA PIETKIEWICZ Country report Romania.........................................................................................................................................61 ROBERT SANTA INTEGRATING REFUGEES IN EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION – A COMPARISON OF FOUR CASE STUDIES ..................................................................................................................................................................71 JENS JUNGBLUT ABOUT THE EDITORS AND AUTHORS ................................................................................................................ 87 FOREWORD Dear reader, I refuse to call it a refugee crisis. I do not think this ‘catchphrase’ portrays the responsibility, values and solidarity that it should actually carry. Instead, the words refugee crisis has become a symbol of divisions: closed borders on one side, and thousands of local solidarity initiatives refusing to accept this narrative on the other side. We should build a new narrative, based on rights, equality, equal opportunities and inclusion and not based on the fear from different cultures, religions and unfamiliar traditions. Rapid increase of migration has challenged the self-portrayal of the European identity and is questioning long standing beliefs about our own values on democracy, multiculturalism and tolerance. This is a humanitarian crisis. This crisis needs to receive proper attention and commitment for action from the governments, social partners and societies across Europe. Education is a human right. It is a driving force for social mobility, societal development and integration. Any person with the desire to learn should be granted the opportunity to do so. Thus, we should open our education institutions to anyone fleeing a situation of conflict, war, terror, hunger, and violations of human rights. This publication reveals some of the struggles in accessing education that refugees face arriving in Euro

FAQs

What is the main purpose of Refugees Welcome?

The publication explores challenges refugees face when accessing education in Europe and identifies obstacles such as undocumented prior learning, unknown qualifications, and incomplete recognition instruments.

How does the report frame education in relation to refugees?

It presents education as a human right and public good, arguing that anyone with the desire to learn should be granted the opportunity, including people fleeing conflict, war, terror, hunger, or human-rights violations.

Who is the publication intended to support?

It is designed as an advocacy tool for recognition of refugees’ and asylum seekers’ qualifications for student unions and for civil society organizations and human rights activists, while also serving as guidance for governments and state agencies.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Jacob