Skip to main content

Higher Education in Emergencies

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Higher Education and Post-Conflict Recovery

Abstract

This chapter examines the claim that higher education should be considered as an integral part of wider humanitarian responses. It begins by analysing the role of higher education in the professionalisation of the aid industry, the potential role of local universities in conflict-affected contexts as relief actors, and the humanitarian protection rationale for supporting higher education in emergencies. The chapter then examines higher education for refugees, firstly considering the various rationales for supporting refugee higher education, and then the models and approaches for providing higher education to refugee students and for rescuing displaced scholars.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Interview with Ibrahim El-Ghariani, President of Omar Al-Mukhtar University . Bayda, Libya–November 2012.

  2. 2.

    Dr Sadiq Nasrullah, Cultural Attaché, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Jordan. Amman, Jordan. February 2011.

  3. 3.

    Interviews with 50 Iraqi academics. Amman, Jordan. June 2009–February 2011.

  4. 4.

    Based on observations as research assistant in support of the scheme. Amman, Jordan. January 2010–July 2010.

List of Works Cited

  • Adams, W. (1968). The Refugee Scholars of the 1930s. The Political Quarterly, 39(1), 7–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aguilar, P., & Retamel, G. (2009). Protective Environments and Quality Education in Humanitarian Contexts. International Journal of Educational Development, 29(1), 3–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2008.02.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anselme, M., & Hands, C. (2010). Access to Secondary and Tertiary Education for All Refugees: Steps and Challenges to Overcome. Refuge, 27(2), 89–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • AUB. (2007, April 24). Call for Proposals: Projects on Reconstruction and Community Service. Task Force for Reconstruction and Community Service, American University of Beirut.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barakat, S., & Milton, S. (2015). Houses of Wisdom Matter: The Responsibility to Protect and Rebuild Higher Education in the Arab World (Brookings Policy Briefing). Doha: Brookings Doha Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baramki, G. (2010). Peaceful Resistance: Building a Palestinian University Under Occupation. London: Pluto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benedek, W. (1997). International Cooperation and Support of Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Journal of Studies in International Education, 1(1), 69–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardo, M., & Baranovich, D. L. (2014). Higher Education in the Heart of Armed Conflict: The Pivotal Role of Student Affairs. International Journal of Educational Development, 35, 78–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2012.08.007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bird, L. (2003). Surviving School: Education for Refugee Children from Rwanda 1994–1996. Paris: Institute of Educational Planning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boothby, N., & Melvin, C. (2011). School-Based Psycho-Social Support. In R. Mollica (Ed.), Textbook of Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery. A Companion Guide for Field and Clinical Care of Traumatized People Worldwide (pp. 262–284). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma.

    Google Scholar 

  • British Council. (2016). The Higher Education Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis. Information Note. International Unit: British Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruhn, C. (2006). Higher Education as Empowerment: The Case of Palestinian Universities. American Behavioral Scientist, 49(8), 1125–1142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan-Smith, M., & Maxwell, S. (1994). Linking Relief and Development: An Introduction and Overview. IDS Bulletin, 25(4), 2–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan-Smith, M., & Scriven, K. (2011). Leadership in Action: Leading Effectively in Humanitarian Operations. London: ALNAP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckland, P. (2005). Reshaping the Future: Education and Postconflict Reconstruction. Washington, DC: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark-Kazak, C. (2010). The Politics of Formal Schooling in Refugee Contexts: Education, Class, and Decision Making Among Congolese in Uganda. Refuge, 27(2), 57–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coffie, A. (2014). Filling in the Gap: Refugee Returnees Deploy Higher Education Skills to Peacebuilding. Refugee Survey Quarterly, 33(4), 114–141. https://doi.org/10.1093/rsq/hdu015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crea, T. (2016). Refugee Higher Education: Contextual Challenges and Implications for Program Design, Delivery, and Accompaniment. International Journal of Educational Development, 46, 12–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2015.11.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crea, T., & McFarland, M. (2015). Higher Education for Refugees: Lessons from a 4-year Pilot Project. International Review of Education, 61(2), 235–245. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-015-9484-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dryden-Peterson, S. (2010). The Politics of Higher Education for Refugees in a Global Movement for Primary Education. Refuge, 27(2), 10–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryden-Peterson, S. (2016). Policies for Education in Conflict and Post-Conflict Reconstruction. In K. Mundy, A. Green, B. Lingard, & A. Verger (Eds.), The Handbook of Global Education Policy (pp. 189–205). Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dziadosz, A. (2011, April 13). Displaced Libyan Families Shelter in University. Reuters.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Jack, A. (2010). “Education Is My Mother and Father”: The “Invisible” Women of Sudan. Refuge, 27(2), 19–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ensign, M. (2015, March 4). University Feeds 270,000 Taking Refuge from Boko Haram. BBC News.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (2014). Commission Implementing Decision of 4.12.2014: On the 2014 Special Measure in Favour of Jordan for the Syria Crisis to Be Financed from the General Budget of the European Union. Annex Three.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (2015). Action Document for EU Trust Fund to Be Used for the Decisions of the Operational Board. European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferris, E., & Winthrop, R. (2010). Education and Displacement: Assessing Conditions for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Affected by Conflict. Background Paper Prepared for the Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • GCPEA. (2015). Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use During Armed Conflict. Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holian, A. (2008). Displacement and the Post-War Reconstruction of Education: Displaced Persons at the UNRRA University of Munich, 1945–1948. Contemporary European History, 17(2), 167–195. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0960777308004360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holloway, A. (2012). Disaster Risk in Africa: Dynamic Discourse or Dysfunctional Dialogue? In L. Bloemertz, M. Doevenspeck, E. Macamo, & D. Müller-Mahn (Eds.), Risk and Africa: Multi-Disciplinary Empirical Approaches (pp. 17–34). Zürich: Lit Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • ICRC. (2015, July 31). ICRC and Lebanese University Partner to Improve Weapon-Wounded Care. International Committee of the Red Cross. Press Release.

    Google Scholar 

  • IIEP. (2010). Guidebook for Planning Education in Emergencies and Reconstruction. International Institute for Educational Planning.

    Google Scholar 

  • INEE. (2010). Minimum Standards for Education: Preparedness, Response, Recovery. Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarecki, H., & Kaisth, D. (2009). Scholar Rescue in the Modern World. New York: Institute of International Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kagawa, F. (2005). Emergency Education: A Critical Review of the Field. Comparative Education, 41(4), 487–503. https://doi.org/10.1080/03050060500317620.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, A. C. K. (2008). Local Perspectives on Humanitarian Aid in Sri Lanka After the Tsunami. Public Health, 122(12), 1410–1417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2008.06.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacLaren, D. (2010). Tertiary Education for Refugees: A Case Study from the Thai-Burma Border. Refuge, 27(2), 103–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masterson, A. R., Ghattas, H., & Fouad, F. (2014). The Potential Role of Local Academia in Protracted Crises – The Example of the American University of Beirut. Field Exchange, 48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J., Riendeau, C., & Rosen, J. (2013). Lessons in Academic Rescue: An International Higher Education Response in Post-war Iraq. Science and Diplomacy, 2(3).

    Google Scholar 

  • Morlang, C., & Stolte, C. (2008). Tertiary Refugee Education in Afghanistan: Vital for Reconstruction. Forced Migration Review, 30, 62–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moser-Mercer, B. (2014). MOOCs in Fragile Contexts. Conference Paper. EMOOCs 2014: European MOOCs Stakeholders Summit.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muchler, B. (2014, September 30). Frustrated, Liberian Students Want Ebola Fight Role. Voice of America.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myntti, C., Mabsout, M., & Zurayk, R. (2012). Through Thick and Thin: The American University of Beirut Engages Its Communities. In L. McIlrath, A. Lyons, & R. Munck (Eds.), Higher Education and Civic Engagement: Comparative Perspectives (pp. 205–219). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Nicolai, S., & Triplehorn, C. (2003). The Role of Education in Protecting Children in Conflict (Network HPN Paper). Humanitarian Practice Network.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nightingale, K. (2012). Building the Future of Humanitarian Aid: Local Capacity and Partnerships in Emergency Assistance. Christian Aid.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson, A. (2013). Children and Youth in Armed Conflict: Volume Two. Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • O’Dempsey, T. (2009). Fair Training: A New Direction in Humanitarian Assistance. Progress in Development Studies, 9(1), 81–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pankratov, T. (2010). Higher Education in Emergencies – A Research Gap. Higher Education Development Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rainhorn, J., Smallbegovic, A., & Jiekak, S. (2010). Humanitarian Studies 2010: University Training and Education in Humanitarian Action. University of Geneva Graduate Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, P., & Greeley, M. (2006). Education in Fragile States: Capturing Lessons and Identifying Good Practice. Prepared for the DAC Fragile States Group Service Delivery Workstream Sub-Team for Education Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russ, C. (2010). Global Survey on Humanitarian Professionalisation. ELRHA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sassoon, J. (2010). The Iraqi Refugees: The New Crisis in the Middle East. London: I.B. Tauris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seabrook, J. (2013). The Refuge and the Fortress: Britain and the Persecuted 1933–2013. Basingstoke/New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sherab, D., & Kirk, K. (2016). Access to Higher Education for Refugees in Jordan. Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A., & Vaux, T. (2003). Education, Conflict and International Development (Commissioned Paper). UK Department for International Development (DFID).

    Google Scholar 

  • Topuzova, L., & Lock, E. (2013). Community Service Learning Track in Community Development and Organization in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. In E. Brown & A. Krasteva (Eds.), Migrants and Refugees: Equitable Education for Displaced Populations (pp. 307–326). Charlotte: Information Age Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNHCR. (1997). UNHCR Comprehensive Policy on Urban Refugees. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNHCR. (2007). Tertiary Refugee Education Impact and Achievements: 15 Years of DAFI. UNHCR Geneva: Technical Support Section.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNHCR. (2015). Jordan: UNHCR Operational Update – November 2015. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNHCR/GEM. (2016). No More Excuses: Provide Education to All Forcibly Displaced People (Policy Paper 26). United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees/Global Education Monitoring.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNICEF. (2016, January 26). UNICEF Launches US$2.8 Billion Humanitarian Appeal for Children. Press Release. UNICEF.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, P., Hein, K., Russ, C., Bertleff, G., & Caspersz, D. (2010). A Blueprint for Professionalizing Humanitarian Assistance. Health Affairs, 29(12), 2223–2230. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2010.1023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wall, I., & Hedlund, K. (2016). Localisation and Locally-led Crisis Response: A Literature Review. L2GP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watenpaugh, K., & Fricke, A. (2013). Uncounted and Unacknowledged: Syria’s Refugee University Students and Academics in Jordan. Institute of International Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watenpaugh, K., Fricke, A., & King, J. (2014a). The War Follows Them: Syrian University Students and Scholars in Lebanon. Institute of International Education and UC Davis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watenpaugh, K., Fricke, A., & King, J. (2014b). We Will Stop Here and Go No Further: Syrian University Students and Scholars in Turkey. Institute of International Education and UC Davis.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2013b). Higher Education in Afghanistan: An Emerging Mountainscape. Washington, DC: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, L., & Plasterer, R. (2010). Beyond Basic Education: Exploring Opportunities for Higher Learning in Kenyan Refugee Camps. Refuge, 27(2), 42–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeus, B. (2009). Exploring Paradoxes Around Higher Education in Protracted Refugee Situations (MA Thesis). Institute of Education, University of London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeus, B. (2012). Formalizing Virtual Learning Spaces for Refugee Youth. In L. Visser, Y. Visser, R. Amirault, & M. Simonson (Eds.), Trends and Issues in Distance Education (pp. 299–309). Charlotte: Information Age Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, D. (2011). “Protests Butter No Parsnips”: Lord Beveridge and the Rescue of Refugee Academics from Europe, 1933–1938. In S. Marks, P. Weindling, & L. Wintour (Eds.), In Defence of Learning: The Plight, Persecution, and Placement of Academic Refugees, 1933–1980s. Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zurayk, H. (2006). Report to the CEPH Board of Directors on the Situation at the American University of Beirut. American University of Beirut.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Milton, S. (2018). Higher Education in Emergencies. In: Higher Education and Post-Conflict Recovery . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65349-5_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics