Italian Universities Face Challenges in Supporting Refugee Students

The Ministry of the Interior, in partnership with Crui and the National Commission for the Right to Study, has been offering scholarships for seven years to support international refugee students in Italy. However, this year’s call for applications has not yet been issued, leaving many students uncertain about their future.

According to Fausta Scardigna, Associate Professor of Physiology of Intercultural Processes at the University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’ and Vice-President of Ruiap – Rete Università per l’Apprendimento Permanente (Lifelong Learning University Network), this delay is causing difficulties for refugee students who have overcome significant trauma to pursue their education. “The universities have not received any notification, and we only know that the Ministry of Education has not yet announced any information on the availability of scholarships,” Scardigna said during the “Manifesto for Inclusive Universities” conference organized by Lumsa University in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Ruiap.

This lack of support for refugee students not only affects their individual futures but also has broader implications for Italian academia. “This makes Italian academia less diverse and reduces the possibility of the integration of these people into our society, even at a high level,” Scardigna added. “We therefore lose the possibility of internationalizing our universities through the contribution of refugee students, who often already have degrees and skills recognized in their countries and who only need to be improved in terms of lifelong learning and the competitive advantage of our universities.”