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Refugee Students in Spain: The Role of Universities as Sustainable Actors in Institutional Integration

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  • Silvia Marcu

    (Instituto de Economía, Geografía y Demografía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28037 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

This article examines the role of institutions—particularly universities—in the recent refugee crisis. It contributes to the debate on the integration of refugees through the higher education system in Spain. Based on semi-structured interviews with refugees and experts in the institutions linked to the reception and integration of refugees, the paper presents evidence—albeit within an under-developed field of analysis—which has strong practical and sustainable policy implications. I argue that expanding access to university, by recognizing refugees’ qualifications and their overcoming of language barriers, increases the potential of refugees to contribute to the socio-economic progress of the receiving country and thus avoid marginalization. The evidence-based analysis of the effectiveness of the existing initiatives and programs for the integration of student refugees identifies challenges that still need to be addressed. The conclusions highlight the role of universities as sustainable actors in the integration of refugees, which through their programs make the reality of refugees more visible to other actors throughout Europe in the hope of encouraging institutions and other organizations to follow their lead in effective and sustainable initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvia Marcu, 2018. "Refugee Students in Spain: The Role of Universities as Sustainable Actors in Institutional Integration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-21, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:6:p:2082-:d:153303
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ghorashi, Halleh & Sabelis, Ida, 2013. "Juggling difference and sameness: Rethinking strategies for diversity in organizations," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 78-86.
    2. Ruth Abraham & Lars Lien & Ingrid Hanssen, 2018. "Coping, resilience and posttraumatic growth among Eritrean female refugees living in Norwegian asylum reception centres: A qualitative study," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(4), pages 359-366, June.
    3. Philipp Genschel & Markus Jachtenfuchs, 2018. "From Market Integration to Core State Powers: The Eurozone Crisis, the Refugee Crisis and Integration Theory," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 178-196, January.
    4. Mohammed Al-Husban & Carl Adams, 2016. "Sustainable Refugee Migration: A Rethink towards a Positive Capability Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-10, May.
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    2. María Tomé-Fernández & Christian Fernández-Leyva & Eva María Olmedo-Moreno, 2020. "Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Social Skills Scale for Young Immigrants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Stefanie Schröder, 2021. "Study Preparation of Refugees in Germany: How Teachers’ Evaluative Practices Shape Educational Trajectories," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(3), pages 383-393.

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