University of Sanctuary Network Meeting - Solent University

Solent University has committed to becoming a University of Sanctuary through the strategic priorities of engaging our communities in the new 2025 strategy and our Access and Participation Plan 2020-21 to 2024-25.

The Universities of Sanctuary is an initiative to recognise the good practice of universities which welcome people seeking sanctuary, including refugees and asylum seekers, into their communities and seek to foster a culture of awareness and inclusivity.

Equal access to Higher Education is enshrined in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Access to education can be fundamental to a person’s ability to integrate, allowing them to meet new people, build professional networks, gain meaningful employment at a suitable level and contribute to their new society. Yet, many people who are forced to fee to the UK encounter and are forced to navigate significant financial, cultural and institutional barriers.

Learning and sharing are fundamental principles of a University of Sanctuary. Therefore, we are keen to engage and build a network of students, staff, academics, alumni and external partners with lived experiences of seeking sanctuary, teaching and researching topics related to people seeking sanctuary, or are interested in supporting people seeking sanctuary.

The agenda of the first meeting is as follows:

o Welcome and introductions;

o Introduction to University of Sanctuary;

o Learning about people seeking sanctuary in Southampton;

o Open forum to share stories and experiences of Higher Education and/or Solent University as people seeking sanctuary (participation as a speaker is optional);

o Open forum to share ideas and suggestions for our action plan;

o Next steps.

We look forward to your involvement and input.