Bridging the Digital Divide: Advancing Refugee Connected Education through Global Collaboration

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

With increasing efforts to include refugee students in national education systems and ensure equitable and quality education for all, many remain excluded due to inadequate digital infrastructure in refugee-hosting areas. Schools that serve refugee communities often lack the necessary resources to implement digital education solutions, leaving forcibly displaced learners at a significant disadvantage compared to their peers globally. The UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency led Refugee Connected Education Challenge (RCEC) through its action group provides a platform for partners looking to address the critical need for inclusive and equitable access to quality connected learning for refugees, in line with global efforts to reduce the digital divide. Despite increasing digital transformations in education, refugee learners and their host communities remain significantly marginalized from the benefits of these advancements. This panel will explore is the role of multi-stakeholder approaches in bridging this gap by promoting partnerships across sectors, driving policy commitments, and implementing practical solutions to ensure no refugee learner is left behind in the digital era.

Sub Unit

• Education in Conflict and Emergencies SIG

Chair

• Seun B Adebayo, UNHCR

Individual Presentations

• Scaling Sustainable Offline Connected Education Solutions for Refugees: Using Project-Based Learning for Foundational and SEL Skills Development - Navya Akkinepally, Learning Equality

• Connected education in refugee hosting contexts: a sustainability approach based on school appropriation - Leticia de Rato, ProFuturo Foundation

• Working towards multi-stakeholder digital technology education responses: EdTech Hub’s research outcomes in displacement settings - Kate Radford, EdTech Hub

Discussant

• Vinod Lobo, Learning Upgrade LLC