Higher education for refugees: relevance, challenges, and open research questions

Abstract

Reflecting the increased public, political, and professional interest in higher education for refugees, research activity in this area has increased significantly in recent years. The growing body of literature provides new academic insights and crucial information for both policy and practice. This integrative literature review discusses 104 papers published between 2016 and 2019, contributing to the state of the research by offering a structured synopsis of the key themes and findings of this relatively new field. It first presents structural changes in the research literature, such as an increased focus on Germany and Turkey after the influx of asylum applications in 2015/16. It also outlines the high relevance of higher education for refugees, which is often discussed as the foundation of success in the host country. Further, the paper provides a synopsis of the personal, institutional, and structural challenges faced by refugees as they aim to realize their higher education goals, and an overview of structural challenges for institutions aiming to support them. In particular, the intersection of multiple challenges and the unaligned interests and needs of policymakers, higher education institutions, and refugees threaten the development of adequate support services. Finally, open questions and implications for further research are identified.