What is the University of Sanctuary Award?
The Universities of Sanctuary award celebrates institutions who actively welcome and support people seeking sanctuary by improving access to higher education and engaging with refugee communities.
The award is built on the principles of learning, embedding, and sharing and encourages universities to understand the challenges faced by these groups, integrate this awareness into their practices, and share inclusive approaches with others.
Why is it important?
Creating an inclusive environment is at the heart of what we do at the 海角视频; we've embedded nurturing connected communities into our vision to ensure that people thrive together.
We engage with individuals seeking sanctuary through:
- Scholarships for asylum seekers
- Fostering integration through physical activity
- Student activism including a
- Supporting Cara Fellowships
- Researching migrant homelessness
- Providing free legal advice
Overseen by a Sanctuary Working Group, our plan is to continue integrating support and advocacy for asylum seekers, refugees and other marginalised migrants into the fabric of our institution.
Learn
We help people better understand forced migration and the experiences of those seeking sanctuary. Through research, teaching, and everyday university activity, students learn both in the classroom and through hands-on opportunities, while staff and the wider community can get involved through events and training.
Our aim is to ensure migrant voices are heard and included and, that our efforts build awareness, challenge misconceptions and create a more informed and welcoming university environment.
Key areas of focus:
- Academic research and migrant voice
- Student learning and forced migration
- Public events and raising awareness
- Staff training
Researching migrant homelessness
Our research project launched in 2020 focuses on understanding the life stories of migrants who have experienced homelessness, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our support: By amplifying individuals' experiences and documenting life stories, this project gives visibility to a group often overlooked in homelessness research. We're aiming to strengthen partnerships, inform policymakers and shape more effective support systems for migrants experiencing homelessness.
Fostering Integration and Thriving Through Physical Activity (FITTPA)
Centring on a strength and conditioning programme delivered by students from our Faculty of Science and Health to asylum seekers, the aim was to foster inclusion, connection and encourage wellbeing through physical activity.
Our support: By creating this community-based initiative, we have ensured that voices are heard and valued. While aligning with our civic aims to increase inclusivity FITTPA has helped us to strengthen community connections and increase activity with our underrepresented populations.
Embed
We鈥檙e working to make a culture of welcome part of everything we do. Our Sanctuary Working Group launched a three-year plan to help turn our commitment into lasting change. The plan focuses on key areas with clear goals and action - ensuring these are built into daily university life.
Key areas of focus:
- Student and staff experience
- Community consultation
- Student involvement
- Communication
- Campaigns and events
Sanctuary Scholarship
We offer a scholarship for asylum seekers applying for an undergraduate degree covering full tuition fees and additional personal support. Applications are open annually and reflects our commitment to widening participation.
Our support: Our aim via the scholarship is to help remove financial barriers for asylum-seeking students to enable them to focus on their studies and progress into higher education. By providing ongoing personal support both practically and emotionally, we provide students on the scholarship with opportunities to work towards their future goals.
Student Action for Refugees (STAR)
STAR actively develops activities to raise awareness and support refugees within and beyond the university community.
Our support: Through STAR, students organise events that contribute to key inclusion initiatives. Students directly influence and impact support systems and advocate for those seeking refuge - providing marginalised migrants in the city with a welcoming and inclusive environment.
University-led consultations
We value diverse perspectives and experiences and, by holding consultations with local organisations and authorities, we have been able to better explore the needs of individuals seeking sanctuary in the city. Bringing together key stakeholders who work with migrant communities and those with lived experience, discussions have highlighted major challenges and stigma that will help us shape what we do as an institution and strengthen our future collaborations.
Our support: By identifying key areas of need, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision, we allow for stronger opportunities to improve access to accurate information and support systems for marginalised migrants locally.
Share
We work closely with our local community to support people seeking sanctuary with staff and students using their skills to make a real difference - from offering advice to improving English language skills. We are involved with local partners to support campaigns to raise awareness and drive positive change.
By sharing what we know and working together, we鈥檙e helping to create a more welcoming 海角视频 for everyone.
Key areas of focus:
- Meeting local need
- Local leadership and campaigning
Access to Justice
Professor Simon Stewart鈥檚 research has highlighted the urgent need for more accessible, free immigration advice, particularly for migrants experiencing homelessness. Working in collaboration with Friends without Borders, University staff have expanded the Access to Justice service, which provides regulated, free immigration advice for vulnerable individuals, who would otherwise not be able to afford it. The project has strengthened links between research and education, and has had a significant community impact.
Our support: Each year, students from the university assist with client casework, research, and outreach, gaining insight into immigration law and social justice issues. This hands-on experience fosters social responsibility, ensuring our students play a meaningful role in supporting vulnerable communities.
In the news
'University-led consultations to unpack challenges of seeking sanctuary in 海角视频'
Dr. Marianela Barrios Aquino, a Postdoctoral Research Associate, and Sujeena Shakya, a Postgraduate Researcher, convened the first of two consultations with local authorities and organisations in 海角视频.
New funding to strengthen 海角视频鈥檚 twinning partnership with Ukrainian university
The funding will support 20 research and innovation projects as part of the University's twinning partnership with Odessa Polytechnic National University.
Sanctuary Scholarship allows student to continue studies at the 海角视频
Read how Mohammed has been able to study at the University thanks to the Sanctuary Scholarship scheme.
The University of Sanctuary Award
We've applied to becoming recognised as a Universities of Sanctuary and are awaiting the outcome of an appraisal by the national organisation.
If successful - we will be accredited for three years.
The work of the Universities of Sanctuary Award is a focus on welcome and inclusion including awareness raising; giving a platform to the voices of people seeking sanctuary, so that they can be heard by those who might otherwise never hear them.