Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment for refugee education crises

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to aim at: (1) investigating the vulnerabilities/obstacles that hinder refugees in hosting countries from obtaining quality and adequate education and (2) proposing a Framework for Action to transform these vulnerabilities into capacities.Design/methodology/approachVulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) was used for the purpose of this research. A survey strategy was adopted and data were collected using semi-structured interviews with refugee families. One hundred and twenty families were interviewed.FindingsThe study identified a number of vulnerabilities; including mainly unavailability of educational facilities; quality of the available education; social challenges and psychological needs. The findings revealed that there was a lack of comprehensive and strategic frameworks for mitigating refugee educational crises.Practical implicationsThe lack of adequate and quality education for refugees in host countries is likely to increase illiteracy levels and subsequently trigger humanitarian and natural disasters on the long run. This research emphasizes the importance of developing comprehensive frameworks for quality and adequate refugee education.Originality/valueTo the author's knowledge, and after an extensive review of the existing literature, this is the first study to employ VCA to investigate the extent of the current refugee educational crisis in Jordan. VCA is more commonly used in the context of natural and environmental disasters threatening societies. Relevant authorities need to be aware of the significance of refugee education at individual, communal and national levels, as well as the significance of education to refugee well-being.

Determinants of university reputation: conceptual model and empirical investigation in an emerging higher education market

“…On the question of evaluating quality in HE, Watty (2006) suggested students as the ideal candidates to be considered for questioning. The innate nature of education was non-commercial, which was not historically designed for market competition, however, the commercial competition imposed by economic forces has made it an object of serious consideration in contemporary marketing (Calvo-Porral et al , 2013; Shamieh et al , 2021). The scope has gone beyond mere skills and abilities adoption, to the perceptions held by the students about the quality of education received (Calvo-Porral et al , 2013).…”