Embracing diversity : enhancing the accessibility of students from a migrant refugee background at the University of Malta

Abstract

The pathway to higher education for students from a refugee or migrant background is not an easy one. Despite their potential, they face numerous challenges both in accessing higher education as well as completing their studies successfully. They remain an ‘underrepresented equity group’ necessitating specific policies and actions to facilitate their access to higher education which take into consideration their past experiences and the challenges they face, and that provide flexible and alternative entry pathways to higher education. They also require a safe, inclusive and enabling learning environment with adequate academic, social and psychological supports tailored to their needs. This paper discusses these challenges, focusing on the University of Malta as a case study on how it is seeking to address this challenge. It proposes a policy proposal for broadening access and increasing participation for students from a refugee and migrant background. The policy describes policy actions to attract and recruit students from refugee and migrant background so as to enhance their participation in higher education, including flexible and alternative entry pathways, and to improve the academic and psychosocial support systems so as to enhance their inclusion, wellbeing and learning experience.