Higher education and inclusion: a comparative study of immigrants challenges, opportunities and strategies in Sweden and South Africa

This study aims to analyse and compare the challenges and opportunities that refugees and asylum seekers experience in Sweden and South Africa along with the strategies they develop in relation to higher education. As both countries have undertaken a more restrictive refugee and asylum policy, this study hopes to contribute to the debate of inclusion and its challenges. The data-collection entails interviews focusing on inclusion through access to higher education. In exploring higher education as a key inclusion factor, the study employs different conceptualised themes. The results provide an overview of the respondents’ experiences. The comparative analysis demonstrates that access to higher education and opportunities are more openly provided to refugees and asylum seekers in Sweden, whereas the issue of discrimination and xenophobia is prevalent in South Africa. The challenges, opportunities and strategies developed have a crucial impact on whether the respondents saw a sustainable future in respective host countries.