Widening Access, Inclusion and Diversity
Preventive early career education Children’s Universities Arqus support networks for inclusion Recognition of prior learning Integrated Arqus plan for refugees and students at risk Seniors Universities Inclusive peer tutoring Fast track for gifted students Job market transition for inclusive universities Common Charter on Gender Equality, Inclusion and SustainabilityWidening access and inclusion to university for under-represented groups is one of the Arqus network’s major goals. Throughout the duration of the project and with the tense political situation in place, Arqus has always been very committed to enabling refugees and students at risk. At the beginning of the project, a task force was set up with the aim of developing inclusive strategies that would help dismantle barriers in higher education and strengthen academic opportunities for refugee students.
The Arqus task force on “Enabling refugees” intended to inspire dialogue and provide an
opportunity to develop new ideas and strategies to break down barriers in higher education
and create a flexible model within the network for supporting at-risk students and scholars
whose academic freedom was threatened in their country of origin. To do so, the Integrated Arqus Plan for Refugees and Students at Risk was developed:
- First, defining a series of challenges faced by this group, that includes the language barrier, the recognition of former careers, the administrative barriers, the psycho-social support and the awareness raising (that includes staff training and the public engagement).
- The second phase includes a coordinated plan focused on Interest/orientation, study preparation, studies and degree/job prospects.