Addressing the Venezuelan migration crisis, a challenge for higher education policy, an opportunity for integration and inclusion

• In Event: Highlighted Session: Intersections of policy and practice in global migration

Proposal

Background
The massive outflow of Venezuelan citizens to the region as a result of the economic, political and social crisis has caused, among other problems, strong pressure on the already strained education systems in the region. Legal frameworks adopted to define the status of Venezuelan migrants and refugees in Colombia and Peru, are necessary but not sufficient conditions for guaranteeing the right to higher education. Both Colombia and Peru are the countries that have taken in the most significant number of Venezuelans. By March 2023, over 7.2 million people have been displaced from Venezuela, with more than 55% settling in Colombia and Peru (R4V, 2023; UNHCR, 2023). Colombia is the world’s second largest host of Refugees and FDP (R/FDP), accommodating 2.5 million compared to 1.6 million in the US (UNHCR, 2021a). Besides the initiatives taken to regularise Venezuelan R/FDP, this document reflects that there are insufficient policy initiatives and programmes to promote access to higher education; furthermore, it is observed that there are few initiatives carried out by higher education institutions promoting support of Venezuelan R/FDP.

Higher education possesses immense power to promote the integration of R/FDP and create equitable and sustainable futures for displaced populations, preventing R/FDP from abuse, marginalisation, and xenophobic events. To promote these futures, higher education institutions are called to take the lead with civil society and policymakers to safeguard the right to higher education.

Based on the desk research, some initiatives have been taken by NGOs to build bridges between secondary and tertiary education; nevertheless, HEIs in the recipient countries analysed seem not to be responding strongly enough to promote access and success for R/FDP. This document proposes public policy solutions articulated in an intra- and inter-sectoral framework, positioning higher education as a link to promote integration in the recipient countries.
Contribution to the discussion
The findings of this article indicate that there has been some policy-level progress, including the issuance of resident permits in host countries and the recognition of higher education credentials. To increase access, retention, and success of R/FDP, however, higher education institutions must actively build partnerships and mutual collaboration with civil society and the public and private sectors. This includes providing more information for R/FDP about the many pathways available in the host country, as well as developing new scholarship and training frameworks, which are extremely limited for FDP who are not recognised as refugees.

These findings could serve as a call to action for HEIs as well as the public and private sectors to overcome integration issues together.

Author

• Eglis Sofía Chacon, Center for International Higher Education at Boston College