Supporting Threatened Scholars in Higher Education Emergencies

Conflicts jeopardize the safety and careers of educators, researchers, and academics, disrupting entire higher education systems. Learn about support schemes in Europe and initiatives like the Scholar Rescue Fund and EDUFI in Finland that provide assistance and grants for scholars facing threats in crisis areas.

• Higher education
• Scholar support
• Threatened scholars
• European initiatives
• Crisis response

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1. Higher Education in Emergencies: Supporting threatened scholars Sini Piippo Finnish National Agency for Education Wednesday 27.11.2019 11:30-12:00

2. Higher Education in Emergencies: supporting threatened scholars Conflicts threaten lives and careers of professores, researchers and academics as well as the entire higher education systems Yemen: The World s Worst Humanitarian Crisis & A Higher Education Emergency by James R. King, IIE Scholar Rescue Fund: https://vimeo.com/291531529

3. How can European higher education communities act? Support schemes Expertise and support Support provided Support schemes in Europe Scholar Rescue Fund (International) PAUSE (France) Assistance and grants for the scholars to continue their career in a safe environment Phillip Schwarz Initiative (Germany) Scholars at Risk (International) EDUFI grants (Finland)

4. Creating support scheme for threatened scholars in Finland Through the partnership of the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund and EDUFI Finland provides support for threatened scholars to continue their work in safety, hosted by Finnish HEIs Activities launched in 2016, 5 scholars have arrived to Finland from Syria and Yemen (2019), 3 hosting HEIs EDUFI and Finnish HEIs have developed expertise around the topic in close collaboration with the IIE-SRF and SAR network through various development activities and events Supporting activities in GREET- and CARe-projects with ACA and DAAD (Horizon 2020 Science4Refugees) 4

5. Who can participate? HEIs Scholar Position Rolling deadline for applications Teaching and research activities A scholar resident in any country can apply for the programme Open for all higher education institutions and all academic fields Eligibility: level of threat and academic accomplishments (IIE-SRF) Visiting researcher or regular staff In Finland/EDUFI scholarships priority is given to scholars from crisis areas in the early stages of their career

6. Funding for 1-2 years USD 50,000 / year (max. 2 years) EDUFI IIE-SRF 1,500/mont h + 5,000 installation allowance USD 25,000/year Co-funding requirement 50% 24/02/2025 Finnish National Agency for Education 6

7. Scholars in Finland Fathiah Zakham tutki Jemeniss tuberkuloosia, kunnes pommit tuhosivat yliopiston (YLE 19.11.2018) https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10496662 Supporting female scientists in Yemen (IIE-SRF Beacon 27.3.2019): https://mailchi.mp/5ad093be9ef3/iie-srf-beacon-march- 71480

8. Source: https://scholarrescuefund.org/about-us/numbers

9. Source: https://scholarrescuefund.org/about-us/numbers

10. Source: https://scholarrescuefund.org/about-us/numbers

11. Career Advancement of Refugee Researchers in Europe Aim: Support the labour market integration of refugee researchers through coordinated and tailored provision of country-specific and needs-based information Funding: EU Horizon2020: Science4Refugees initiative Duration: January 2019 October 2020 (22 months) Partners: ACA, DAAD and EDUFI Target group: refugee researchers, R1-R3 Target countries: Austria, Belgium/Flanders, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands Cooperation with SAR and EURAXESS in preparation of focus groups, outreach and dissemination 11

12. Needs-based guidance Supporting integration of researchers with refugee- background Employer survey 10 target countries Webinars Focus groups Multi-level and multi- stakeholder approach Country guides (EURAXESS) Wide dissemination of results: ACA, SAR, EURAXESS 12 12

13. Preliminary findings from focus group discussions with the scholars Need for targeted support and funding opportunities at European level At the same time scholars want to be seen primarily as researchers not as refugees Scholarship contracts valuable but too short not easy to integrate nor find further possibilities after 2 years scholarship Refugee status/ scholarship is not necessarily viewed in a good light not an asset at job markets Displaced scholars could contribute to development of their host countries 13

14. Preliminary findings Challenges: language barriers different working culture different systems negative attitudes lack of networks Suggestions: targeted mentoring programmes match-making websites network of scholars and network of different actors (HEIs, government, CSOs) special language courses for professionals EU level regulations and targeted funding 14

15. Q&A

16. Thank you! Contact: sini.piippo@oph.fi +358 295 338 595