By signing this petition you as a member of staff demand fair access to Queens University Belfast for asylum seekers. The Student Action for Refugees (STAR) wants fully funded access to education at QUB for those who have come to Northern Ireland, having fled war, torture and persecution and now seek to fulfill their academic potential and build successful lives.
We believe that universities should take a leading role in responding to the international challenges of the global refugee crisis. We believe that QUB has a responsibility to play its part in the response to the global refugee crisis and will benefit from opening its doors to those students seeking refugee protection.
Therefore STAR requests that QUB creates fully funded places for asylum seekers already living in Northern Ireland instead of requesting asylum seekers to pay the international tuition fee. Many prestigious universities in the UK, including Manchester, Leeds, and London, are already offering either fully funded places to refugees and asylum seekers or treat them as home students. QUB states in its ‘Vision 2020’ that it wants to increase international student population from “8% to 20%” and aims include “welcoming students from all over the world and helping them to achieve their ambitions”. If QUB would offer asylum seekers funded places, it would bring these goals closer.
Education is a fundamental human right, recognized by the United Nations. We do not believe that financial barriers should prevent asylum seekers from achieving their academic potential. Asylum seekers have no legal right to work and cannot get a student loan, their only option is to be given financial help by universities and other educational facilities.
On the 1st of December QUB STAR will start a campaign to raise awareness of the plight of asylum seekers who are being denied the opportunity of further education. This petition and a petition for students will thereafter be presented to Queen's board.
We thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and hope you sign the petition in order to improve the life of asylum seekers in Belfast and to improve QUB's engagement and responsability in society.
Updates
November 26, 2015
The administration has acknowledged the volume of staff backing and agreed to a preliminary meeting regarding the proposed policy changes. I am currently drafting a formal proposal to outline the specific financial framework utilized by comparable institutions. Expect a follow-up once I have confirmed the schedule for our initial consultation with the registrar.
11 Comments
Universities and Colleges are uniquely placed to meet this challenge and Queen's should share this opportunity to support those seeking asylum in accessing higher education. It should be part of an inclusive, federated response across all UK and Irish Universities.
Concentrated effort really has to be made to attack the myths of the Syrian refugees. Should attempt to organise a conference/talk at QUB soon.
refugees come with a high potential and aspirations; to invite them to fulfil this is a crucial step for a more cosmopolitan understanding. This initiative also will boost Queen' Belfast international reputation as a multicultural, open knowledge hub.
This would be a very appropriate way of demonstrating QUB’s commitment to academic, social, and humanitarian values (if such values are upheld by Vision 2020 as one presumes).
It would be wonderful and entirely in keeping with Vision 2020 if Queen's could support equal access for such student.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Access to higher education should be free anyway.
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By signing this petition you as a member of staff demand fair access to Queens University Belfast for asylum seekers. The Student Action for Refugees (STAR) wants fully funded access to education at QUB for those who have come to Northern Ireland, having fled war, torture and persecution and now seek to fulfill their academic potential and build successful lives.
We believe that universities should take a leading role in responding to the international challenges of the global refugee crisis. We believe that QUB has a responsibility to play its part in the response to the global refugee crisis and will benefit from opening its doors to those students seeking refugee protection.
Therefore STAR requests that QUB creates fully funded places for asylum seekers already living in Northern Ireland instead of requesting asylum seekers to pay the international tuition fee. Many prestigious universities in the UK, including Manchester, Leeds, and London, are already offering either fully funded places to refugees and asylum seekers or treat them as home students. QUB states in its ‘Vision 2020’ that it wants to increase international student population from “8% to 20%” and aims include “welcoming students from all over the world and helping them to achieve their ambitions”. If QUB would offer asylum seekers funded places, it would bring these goals closer.
Education is a fundamental human right, recognized by the United Nations. We do not believe that financial barriers should prevent asylum seekers from achieving their academic potential. Asylum seekers have no legal right to work and cannot get a student loan, their only option is to be given financial help by universities and other educational facilities.
On the 1st of December QUB STAR will start a campaign to raise awareness of the plight of asylum seekers who are being denied the opportunity of further education. This petition and a petition for students will thereafter be presented to Queen's board.
We thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and hope you sign the petition in order to improve the life of asylum seekers in Belfast and to improve QUB's engagement and responsability in society.
Updates
November 26, 2015
The administration has acknowledged the volume of staff backing and agreed to a preliminary meeting regarding the proposed policy changes. I am currently drafting a formal proposal to outline the specific financial framework utilized by comparable institutions. Expect a follow-up once I have confirmed the schedule for our initial consultation with the registrar.
11 Comments
its long past time we did something real to help. qub cant keep talking about diversity and then ignore the people right on our doorstep who just want a chance to learn.
Universities and Colleges are uniquely placed to meet this challenge and Queen's should share this opportunity to support those seeking asylum in accessing higher education. It should be part of an inclusive, federated response across all UK and Irish Universities.
Concentrated effort really has to be made to attack the myths of the Syrian refugees. Should attempt to organise a conference/talk at QUB soon.
refugees come with a high potential and aspirations; to invite them to fulfil this is a crucial step for a more cosmopolitan understanding. This initiative also will boost Queen' Belfast international reputation as a multicultural, open knowledge hub.
This would be a very appropriate way of demonstrating QUB’s commitment to academic, social, and humanitarian values (if such values are upheld by Vision 2020 as one presumes).
It would be wonderful and entirely in keeping with Vision 2020 if Queen's could support equal access for such student.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Access to higher education should be free anyway.
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its long past time we did something real to help. qub cant keep talking about diversity and then ignore the people right on our doorstep who just want a chance to learn.