SNHU is partnering with universities from across the globe to improve, increase access to higher education for refugee learners.
Today, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and SNHU’s Global Education Movement (SNHU GEM) – represented by SNHU GEM Executive Director and SNHU Vice President of Global Initiatives Rachael Sears – helped launch the Global University Academy (GUA).
The GUA, a collaborative of 16 universities based in Africa, Europe, and North America, will work together to improve and increase access to higher education for refugees and their communities.
SNHU President Lisa Marsh Ryerson said:
“We’re excited to join the GUA to continue to bring higher education within reach of more refugees across the globe. Education is a core social determinant of health with the power to make lasting impacts for individuals and communities. As institutions of higher learning, it’s our responsibility to come together and find ways to increase access to high-quality education and support for refugees and displaced people so they can flourish and live healthier lives.”
Read the press release announcement for the GUA below.
Oslo, 12 September: In response to the urgent need for improved higher education programs and support services for refugees and their communities, several leading universities from three continents recently launched the Global University Academy to develop a universal higher education model. Universities based in Africa, Europe, and North America formed the Global University Academy following a workshop hosted by the University of Oslo in June 2024.
With just over 7% of the world’s fast-growing refugee population having some access to higher education resources, the Global University Academy was created to help support the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)’s goal of increasing refugee access to higher education to 15% by 2030. The Global University Academy will act as a network of mutual support in response to immediate refugee crises, while developing long-term resources for refugees and individuals affected by displacement in multiple contexts, to support their right to self-fulfilment.
Over the next 18 months, partners will develop a robust framework for foundation and bachelor’s degree level programs that are co-developed and locally embedded. The work will focus on mutual recognition of courses, assuring courses are relevant and of high standards, collaborating with local partners, securing long-term financial support, and evaluating the impact of the initiative.
To develop its long-term response, the Global University Academy will seek out potential university partners whose local communities have been impacted by large numbers of refugees to ensure a truly robust model can be co-created from the start. The Global University Academy will also build on the input of potential learners in refugee communities, refugee-led organizations, and other global voices. Local and global support is also pledged through the Norwegian Refugee Council, which already supports over 1 million refugee learners in primary and secondary education in over 40 countries, and UNHCR. The Grieg Foundation has provided initial support for the development of the GUA.
The GUA secretariat is at the University of Oslo. Contact information: Marianne Knarud: [email protected] / www.globaluniversityacademy.org
