The role of universities in the inclusion of refugees in higher education and in society from the perspective of the SDGS
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 10 October 2022
Issue publication date: 3 February 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper aims to discuss the outreach strategies of higher education institutions (HEIs) to promote the inclusion of refugees, focusing on two case studies of programs in southern Brazil.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes two outreach programs of Brazilian universities: the Welcome Program for Immigrants (Programa Acolhida ao Imigrante) of the University of South Santa Catarina, a private higher education institution and the Support Center for Immigrants and Refugees (Núcleo de Apoio ao Imigrantes e Refugiados), sponsored by the Federal University of Santa Catarina, a public university. The activities of the two institutions were compared with the targets of the sustainable development goals to discuss the outreach strategies of HEIs aimed at promoting the inclusion of refugees, through descriptive research, with a qualitative approach based on documentary and bibliographic research.
Findings
The results show that academic participation in research and outreach programs provides refugees with an education but also represents a social contribution far beyond qualifications and technical training, by mitigating local and global problems. The practice of inclusive education allows a reduction in historically existing inequalities. The findings of this study indicate that the results are much more effective when universities, government and society work together to reduce inequalities.
Originality/value
This study addressed how universities can and should ensure life quality (SDG 3), including an equitable education and fostering lifelong learning opportunities for everybody (SDG 4) and gender equality (SDG 5), to reduce unemployment (SDG 8) and inequalities among people (SDG 10), through outreach projects.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study was conducted by the Centre for Sustainable Development (Greens), from the University of Southern Santa Catarina (Unisul) and Ânima Institute – AI, in the context of the project BRIDGE – Building Resilience in a Dynamic Global Economy: Complexity across scales in the Brazilian Food-Water-Energy Nexus; funded by the Newton Fund, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e Inovação do Estado de Santa Catarina (FAPESC), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível superior (CAPES) and National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).
Citation
Finatto, C.P., Aguiar Dutra, A.R., Gomes da Silva, C., Nunes, N.A. and Guerra, J.B.S.O.d.A. (2023), "The role of universities in the inclusion of refugees in higher education and in society from the perspective of the SDGS", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 24 No. 3, pp. 742-761. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2021-0275
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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