Admission pathways for refugee students in higher education

04 April 2022 | European University Association

The final dissemination webinar of the ARENA – Refugees and Recognition (Toolkit 3) project will be held online on May 4, 2022 at 12:00-15:00 (CET).

Sharing the experiences of universities, NARICs and refugee students themselves, the event aims to raise awareness on how higher education institutions can create admission pathways for refugee students. The webinar will include a presentation of the ARENA Pathway – a model procedure and online training programme aimed at universities who wish to introduce similar procedures in their own institution.

Registration and link to the webinar will be found on the ARENA project’s website closer to the event.

This event might be very informative source for college and universities administrations dealing with future increase of the number of low-income and language limited applicants.

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EU stands with Ukrainian researchers

March 3, 2022 | Brussels:

The EU stands united in its solidarity with Ukraine and will continue to support Ukraine and its people together with its international partners, including through additional political, financial and humanitarian support.

STATEMENT ON RESEARCH BY COMMISSIONER MARIYA GABRIEL:

The Russian military aggression against Ukraine is an act of war and constitutes a violation of international law, undermining European and global security and stability.

It is an attack on elementary values of freedom, democracy and self-determination, on which cultural expression, academic and scientific freedom and scientific cooperation are based.

We, the European Union, stand by Ukraine and its people.

In solidarity with our Ukrainian partners, we, the European Commission, are determined on the following measures.

First, we have decided not to engage into further cooperation projects with Russian entities. I have therefore decided to suspend the preparations of grant agreement for four projects under Horizon Europe programme that involve five Russian research organisations. Signing of any new contracts will be put on hold until further notice.

Second, I have asked my services to suspend any payment to Russian entities under existing contracts.

Third, Ukrainian scientists and researchers are key participants in our EU Framework programmes for R&I and have demonstrated excellence and innovation leadership across many fields.

We are strongly committed to ensuring a continued successful participation of Ukraine and Ukrainian entities in Horizon Europe and Euratom Research and Training programmes.

In October 2021, Ukraine signed its agreement to associate to both the Horizon Europe and Euratom Research and Training Programmes. The association agreement will enter into force once Ukraine notifies the Commission of the completion of its ratification process.

In the meantime, we have taken administrative steps to ensure that successful Ukrainian beneficiaries can receive funding from the EU R&I programmes.

This cooperation in science, research and innovation strengthens the alliance between the EU and Ukraine to deliver on common priorities.

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How Studying Abroad Can Expand Your Horizons

It feels like everybody is talking about studying abroad these days. Escaping your home country, living independently from your parents while getting to travel and exploring a new culture - sounds like a lot of fun, doesn’t it? It is true that more and more students have started exploring international education opportunities, despite the challenges it brings. Here is why YOU should do it too!

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1. Top Quality Education

Higher quality education is rightfully one of the main reasons why students choose to study abroad. The sad reality is, not every country is on equal footing when it comes to educational resources and technological development. Those who choose to study abroad often set themselves for higher standards of teaching, better career opportunities and a wider pool of schools and programs to choose from.

2. Unique Career Opportunities

Study abroad experience is extremely valued by employers and can easily set you apart from other job seekers. By living and learning abroad, international students tend to develop a number of precious professional skills, such as high stress resistance, creative problem solving, teamwork, multicultural awareness, adaptability and many others. All of these skills are immensely important for your professional growth and will definitely help you boost your career journey. According to the IES Abroad survey, nearly 90% of study abroad alumni found their first jobs within six months of graduation compared to only 49% of the general college graduate population who found jobs within a year; study abroad alumni also earned $7,000 more in starting salaries.

3. Overcome The Language Barrier

There is no doubt that you will have to brush up your language skills while studying abroad. First and foremost, for your classes, of course - you will have to learn the language of your host country if you haven’t yet done so in order to fully comprehend the lectures and learning content. You will also need to develop those language skills to simply navigate your daily life, from asking for directions to ordering takeout at your favorite restaurant. It may be hard to get used to living in another language at first, but it will get better in no time! Remember: practice makes perfect.

4. Bring Diversity Into The Workplace

Another career benefit of studying abroad - you didn’t expect it, but here it is! Workplace diversity is no passing fad - it is becoming increasingly important, as it is a natural way for businesses to bring innovation, improve decision making and, in turn, boost financial performance. These days, companies spend millions of dollars to implement workplace diversity practices and improve their diversity hiring methods, so your studying abroad experience will help you bring that value to the table, whatever direction you choose to go.

As shown by the AIFS Study Abroad survey, 80% of students reported that studying abroad contributed to their ability to adapt in diverse workplace environments.

5. Enhance Your Network And Make New Friends

Networking is absolutely essential for your career growth, and it is a very good idea to start doing this in school. The purpose of networking is to form relationships with other professionals in your or related fields in order to gain advice, perspective, valuable information, or referrals that will potentially benefit your career. As an international student, you will have a unique opportunity for global multicultural networking - something you would never be able to do in your home country. So get ready to put yourself out there and take your first step towards a successful career. Remember, networking should not be viewed as a one-way transaction. Instead, try thinking of it as making new friends - now that is a gamechanger!

6. New Cultural Experiences

One of the biggest advantages of studying abroad is getting the chance to immerse yourself in a totally different culture. It is often easy to forget how diverse our world can be while you are stuck in your home country. This unique experience will help you gain the ability to look at the world from a new perspective and even see your own culture and yourself through a different lens.

7. Personal Growth

There are various reasons why students choose to study abroad. Most of them are seeking to receive top quality education, enhance their resumes, learn new languages, or just have fun. But what they don’t expect is the unbelievable personal growth they will inevitably achieve. Studying abroad brings a lot of challenges and experiences that will just make you start thinking outside the box and increase your maturity, self-confidence and independence.

8. See The World

Being an international student often means having a very busy schedule, but rest and new impressions are very important to prevent burnout - sounds like the ultimate excuse to travel! Don’t waste your precious time and ask your new friends to share their favorite sights, check out your off-campus activities and events, or even take a trip to a neighboring country. It’s not always easy to find the time to travel after entering the workforce, so as long as it doesn’t interfere with your studies, start exploring the world around you and fill that bucket list of yours!

Studying abroad is a major decision and very significant commitment, both for students and their families. Hopefully, after reading this article, you are now aware of how beneficial international education can be for your future. However, the most important part is choosing the right institution that will help you reach your academic and career goals. Here at IECC Global, our primary goal is to become your information provider and deliver the most accurate and detailed resources to students that are looking to study abroad.

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To learn more about how our international education services can help with advancing your global career, please visit our For International Students page!