University of Oxford has been awarded university of Sanctuary status for its effort to support Sanctuary seekers.
Professor Irene Tracey, vice- chancellor embraces this status, and believe in the long tradition of supporting individuals from all around the globe, to find refuge in Oxford.
In 2021, individual colleges Mansfield and Sumerville were awarded college of Sanctuary status. This award included scholarship funding students with asylum seeker or refugee background.
The initiative describes itself as bringing together students and staff working forward empowering, safe and inclusive environment for education.
This commitment to accommodate forcibly displaced, goes back to 1982, establishing the refugee studies center, a part of the department of international development to enhance knowledge and the recognition of forced migration.
Professor Alexander Betts, Director of the Refugee studies center, informed that Oxford’s achievement as “an important step”. He further stated the commitment to enhance scholarships for refugees and do even more in the future by providing a chance.
Support in the form of scholarships for sanctuary- seeking students, recently assistance for Ukrainian students, due to Russia’s invasion. Scholarships for master’s courses were taken up by 26 Ukrainian students.
The new Oxford sanctuary community, responsible for funding and support and helped coordinate the inaugural sanctuary fair, bringing together individuals effected by forced migration and make the establishment more integrated and inclusive.
A research based in Nairobi, as a part of the Oxford sanctuary community, work to assist displaced academies and enhance research careers. The community also assists the refugees branch by local student action.
This reputed status has been awarded to 25 UK universities, as a part of the initiative, endorse the city of sanctuary character. With cross party support in the city council, Oxford has been part of this movement since 2008.
The group was “thrilled” to have Oxford as a part of the network, said Maryam Taher, the university of sanctuary coordinator. She said that it is vital to welcome those seeking sanctuary status, to form a national sentiment of safety and support for those in need at time of crisis.
