Day 1 – Wednesday 4 May 2016

9.00 – Registrations

9.15 – Opening of the workshop and welcome

Stéphane Lauwick, President of EURASHE, Director of Le Havre University Institute of Technology (IUT) (France)

9.30 – Plenary session with keynote speakers

The Council of Europe confronted with the refugees crisis: The role and answer from education, Jean-Philippe Restoueix, Council of Europe

Refugees: Reflections and actions of the European Commission, Mette Mørk Andersen, European Commission

11.00 – Coffee break

11.30 – Plenary session with keynote speakers

The Norwegian Approach to the Recognition of Refugees’ Qualifications, Joachim Gümüs Kallevig, NOKUT (Norway)

Universities and refugees: Assessment of good practices from Poland and Austria, Daniel Kontowski and Madelaine Leitsberger, University of Winchester (UK)

13.00 – Lunch break

14.00 – Parallel working sessions

14.00 – Parallel working sessions 1:

A. The Intensive Preparatory Year for Newcomers in higher education, Klaas Vansteenhuyse, UC Leuven-Limburg (Belgium)

B. Admission Office – Process and Procedures, Carine Raes, KdG University College (Belgium)

14.35 – Parallel working sessions 2:

A. Welcome Talent @ Thomas More, Lisbet Lenaers, Thomas More (Belgium)

B. Work and study placement for Syrian students in Turkey and Lebanon, Giselle Schellekens, SPARK (Netherlands)

15.10 – Parallel working sessions 3:

A. Academic Dugnad for refugees and asylum seekers, Karl Norli, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences (HiOA) (Norway)

15.45 – Panel discussion: Giving the floor to refugees

16.15 – Conclusion and closing of the workshop

Europe and its different countries are considered to be one of the safest places in the world, providing relief to people confronted with life-threatening wars and violence. Actually, it has always been like that. Moreover, Europe is a well-chosen place for a better future for people living in this hopeless situation.

The last year, Europe came under great pressure because of the great flux of refugees, crossing the Mediterranean by thousands and trying to create a route to the Northern part. As the flow of refugees was lasting, positions changed. The search for a solution on European level became difficult but also more and more urgent.

This refugees crisis is a challenge for Europe. Higher education is one of the actors confronted with the need of positioning and solving that crisis. During the ‘Access and inclusion of refugees in higher education’ workshop, EURASHE wants to give an overview of the current situation and evolution of the refugee crisis as it is nowadays.

What is the position of and the action taken by the Council of Europe and the European Commission? How can a national ENIC-NARICs deal with the issue of cooperation with institutions? What does research teach us about the actions taken by higher education?

These are some examples of questions that will be dealt with during our workshop. The four keynote presentations will be given by presenters at the ‘frontline’ of policy and research.

In the afternoon, some practices will be presented in parallel sessions. Subjects will vary from access to integration and participation of refugees in higher education.

The workshop will show the ethical positioning and the voluntarism of institutions. They are confronted with legal and, sometimes, political barriers.

They show the double-track approach: integration of refugees or post-war reconstruction of countries. At the end of the day EURASHE will launch its own position statement.

Workshop location

The workshop will take place at EURASHE, located at Ravensteingalerij 27/3, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. It is shown in yellow on the map.

Accommodation

Recommended hotels, in red on the map, are:

1. Hotel Motel One Brussels – Rue Royale 12, 1000 Brussels, Belgium – website – T: 0032 2 209 61 10, F: 0032 2 209 61 11, email: brussels@motel-one.com – starting at EUR 93.50
   
2. 9Hotel Central – Rue des Colonies 10, 1000 Brussels, Belgium – website – T: 0032 2 504 99 10, F: 0032 2 503 14 51, email: info@le9hotel-central.com – starting at EUR 141.00
3. Atlas Hotel Brussels – Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains 30, 1000 Brussels, Belgium – website – T: 0032 2 502 60 06, F: 0032 2 502 69 35; email: info@atlas-hotel.be – starting at EUR 135.00
   
4. Hotel ibis Brussels off Grand Place – Grasmarkt 100/Rue du Marché aux Herbes 100, 1000 Brussels, Belgium – website – T: 0032 2 620 04 27, F: 0032 2 514 50 67, email: H1046@accor.com – starting at EUR 119.00

Map

View Workshop on Refugees – Brussels 2016 in Google Maps here.

Organisers

ARES’ Chambre of Hautes Ecoles and Higher Education of Social Promotion - The ARES’ Chambre of Hautes Ecoles and Higher Education of Social Promotion (Chambre des Hautes Ecoles et de l’Enseignement supérieur de promotion sociale) represents the French-speaking university colleges and universities... Read more

European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE) - EURASHE is the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education that offer professionally orientated programmes and are engaged in applied research within the Bologna cycles. EURASHE represents universities of applied sciences... Read more

Flemish Council of University Colleges (VLHORA) - Vlaamse Hogescholenraad (VLHORA) The Flemish Council of University Colleges is the formal consultative and advisory body of all Flemish University Colleges. It advises the Flemish government on policy issues concerning... Read more

Available spots

There are maximum 30 spots available for this workshop.

Registration fee

The registration fee includes attendance at the workshop, all materials (documentation and welcome package), coffee breaks, and lunch. The fee does not cover travel and accommodation expenses.

The registration fees are set as follows:

• Regular participants (non-members of EURASHE): EUR 75.00
• Members of EURASHE: EUR 60.00

There is a possibility to pay your fee in cash on the spot. Should you wish to do so, an administrative fee of EUR 20.00 may be charged in addition to your registration fee.

Cancellation

Cancellations must be sent in writing to eurashe@eurashe.eu.

Cancellations received prior to 4 April 2016 will be reimbursed fully, while cancellations received between 4 and 21 April 2016 will be reimbursed in the amount of 50% of the participation fee. Participants who cancel after 22 April 2016 or do not attend the workshop will be liable to pay the entire registration fee.

Substitutes may be accepted at any time, provided that the secretariat is informed of the change.

Confirmation

The registration will be confirmed by an email. However, please note that your registration will be completed and considered final only when your payment has been received.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the secretariat at eurashe@eurashe.eu.

•  Academic Dugnad (2.8 MB)
•  Admission Office: Process and procedures (0.6 MB)
•  Intensive Preparatory Year (1.5 MB)
•  Refugees: Reflections and actions of the EC (1.9 MB)
•  Scholarships for Syrian students (1.8 MB)
•  The Council of Europe confronted with the refugees crisis: the role and answer from education (0.7 MB)
•  The Norwegian Approach to the Recognition of Refugees’ Qualifications (1.2 MB)