The Refugees into Higher Education project researched, identified and addressed some of the needs and aspirations of refugees in Brighton & Hove with regards to accessing Higher Education.

Research

Cupp has worked together with five refugee community groups and local education providers and researchers from the Health & Social Policy Research Centre at the University of Brighton to produce a detailed research report with 14 recommendations to address the issues and barriers faced by refugees who would like to access Higher Education in the local area.

Research

REMAS HE (Refugee Education Mentoring and Support into Higher Education) has been a joint service provided by the University of Brighton and University of Sussex. The service has supported refugees in Sussex who wished to access higher education and who may not have been familiar with how the British higher education system works.

This free service offered a wide range of activities including:

Ways into Learning and Work, a course designed to support refugees and asylum seekers with experience of higher education to access appropriate educational and employment progression routes Mentoring and Advice, an opportunity to meet with current University students on a regular basis to talk through issues about going to University Information Drop-in Sessions, an opportunity to meet with the REMAS HE Refugee Outreach Worker Visits to local Universities, opportunities to experience lectures and seminars and find out more about English language skills for higher education As funding came to an end this service stopped in 2009.

Project partners

BHASVIC (Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College) BHASVIC aims to provide opportunities for students to achieve their educational ambitions. It is a sixth form college providing intermediate and advanced level courses for the 16-19 yr old sector. However basic English and IT courses are open for post 19 yr olds. Web address: <www.bhasvic.ac.uk>

Friends Centre Friends Centre is an adult education centre and registered charity which has recently become a company limited by guarantee. Basic Skills, ESOL, general adult education and some teacher training courses to learners of 16 onwards, are provided. Web address: <www.friendscentre.org>

Middle East Community Project The project assists refugees and non-refugees from the Middle East to access welfare and other support in the UK.

Sudanese Coptic Association The Sudanese Coptic Association was first started by meetings in 1991 to support the Sudanese who fled Sudan to apply for asylum in the UK. The SCA maintains the Sudanese culture by forming the family gathering every other week for all the community. The Association also represents the community in all different aspects and with all different agencies. Web address: http://www.sudanesecoptic.com/

Sussex Refugee Association Sussex Refugee Association is a voluntary organisation formed in 1997 to promote the welfare and well being of all asylum seekers and refugees in the area.

Centre for Continuing Education (now Centre for Community Engagement), University of Sussex HELP (Higher Education Learning Project) is a project at the University of Sussex that is seeking to research the learning and support needs of refugees and asylum seekers who have entered the UK with higher level qualifications from their country of origin. Web address: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/cce/