This guide addresses staff at research and higher education institutions as well as at EURAXESS Centres that work with refugee researchers.
The information provided features results of the EURAXESS TOP IV Project Task 3.4. Refugee Initiatives of the following participating countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Austria, as well as results of the BRiDGEII Project. The BRiDGEII project was a two-year project funded under the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020: Science4Refugees-Support to highly skilled refugee scientists with coordinator Bielefeld University (Germany).
Results from the EURAXESS TOP IV Project Task 3.4 have been published in the report "A modularly structured training programme for the labour integration of refugee researchers".
Besides, some cases of good examples were selected through the EURAXESS network and the other projects funded by the European Commission.
Which topics will be addressed?
- Counselling techniques for the work with refugee researchers
- Basic legal information for refugee researchers
- Early career development counselling
Please note that some of the programmes are no longer runninig. These programmes are marked with "completed". However, we have left them online as a source of ideas.
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This section is primarily aimed at the staff of EURAXESS network members and staff working with refugee researchers in general. The guide is offering information for staff on how to support comprehensive career planning for refugee researchers in an early stage. It should assist in enabling refugee researchers to create their own individual paths and work towards a sustainable career in the host country be it inside or outside of research, while minimizing the threat of dequalification.
- Access to education and employment as well as the access and extent of support services varies among countries
- Different perspectives for career development in host countries
- Advanced language and other skill requirements for qualified employment
- Limited freedom of movement
- Lack of documentation and no support from bureaucratic structures in the country they fled from
- European research labour market is highly competitive
- Danger of devaluation of human capital
- Personal networks in their home countries, might be unable to provide material support and in turn might even be dependent on the refugees themselves
- Legal barriers
- Unfamiliarity with the local customs of job search
- Discrimination
- Trauma, which can arise prior, during and after the process of fleeing to a host country
For staff working with refugee researchers it is important to have basic information, strategies and techniques for the handling of immediate counselling situations. However, it is strongly recommended to use psychological support services.
Counselling should focus on:
- basic aspects of involuntary migration
- the stress associated with the loss of networks, status, relationships, and native
- communication
- the insecurity tied to unsettled legal status
- the shapes trauma can take
- how the effects trauma can hide until the life circumstances of the person begin to
- stabilize again
Keep in mind:
- Trauma requires treatment, but there should be no stigma attached to it
- Focus the practical input on the creation of secure counselling situations by focusing on the “researcher”,not on the “refugee”
- Keeping reliable and regular timetables
- Providing simple, useful input (“In this office / At this university / In this country these things work like this: …”); Use simple language
- Do not ask for the reasons for escape unless the refugee researchers address them themselves
For refugee researchers it is important to receive knowledge about legal procedures and access to the education sector, funding and employment for refugee researchers. Staff should make the refugee researcher familiar with the current situation in the respective country, available resources and perspectives.
Who should you involve?
- experienced trainers can be recruited from a variety of sources, including public organisations or NGOs who provide legal counsel to refugees, ministries, international offices of research organisations and federal funding agencies
- national employment agencies on the topics of access to labour markets, self-employment, and employee’s rights, as well as financial support;
- scholarship agencies (depending on the national situation)
For legal counselling focus on:
- The national asylum procedures, average duration of processes, statistics etc. and impact for refugee researchers;
- The legal impact onto the chances of refugee researchers getting access to training measures, study programmes, and qualified employment;
- Information on recognition of academic degrees: prerequisites contacts, added costs and financial support;
- Create an overview of the legal situation regarding the access to higher education for refugee researchers, covering all stages and types of protection including:
- impact of various types of protection on the RR
- the ability of RRs to travel abroad for conference attendance or research stays
- the impact of an application for protection on a possible later attempt to gain residence through employment and vice versa
- the legal process, related costs and, if available, funding and support schemes related to access to study programmes and the recognition of qualification
Who should you involve?
- Trainers from existing career centres at research and higher education institutions
- Trainers from public employment services
- Trainers from national and local funding agencies for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship etc
Keep in mind: The goal is to foster the personal agency of refugee researchers by enabling them to make informed decisions about their options regarding their professional future in the host country.
For early career development counselling focus on:
- the benefits of already existing early-stage career orientation and related information available to refugee researchers
- career development outside of research, with alternative paths in the private sector, in the public or NGO sector, in international organisations or in entrepreneurship.
What input should you provide?
- input on all fields of employment that are open to international researchers, be it inside research, in public and private organisations and companies, in international organisations, and through self-employment
- information on the national research landscape, R&D organisations, possible employers, relevant funding schemes and research policies; the European research area
- insights into National labour markets, public training services and support, with a focus on information and statistics about qualified employment inside and outside of research.
- tools for Self-employment as a career alternative
- support structures and funding schemes for entrepreneurs, open to refugee researchers
- input on existing career counselling services that are provided by national research and higher education institutions.
- input on existing EURAXESS career counselling tools and services.
What information should you provide?
- Information on available courses
- Information on training and internship programmes
- Information on all other types of active skill development
- and training support for refugee researchers
- Information on respective funding sources for research and higher education institutions interested
- in expanding their programmes
- Information on the specific academic and other relevant skill
- development training programmes available for refugee researchers, as well as (external) funding sources open to refugee researchers
- Information on general skill development and training courses provided by non-academic support services
- Information on funding schemes for research and higher education institutions willing to train refugee researchers
- Information on mentoring programmes for refugee researchers, including peer-mentoring
NOTE: Internship programmes should receive special attention: They are extremely valuable tools and not only offer the opportunity to gain work experience, insight into the respective field and contacts, but also add to the confidence and agency of the individual doing the internship. Academic internships will also provide insight into the national scientific landscape and create valuable opportunities for networking.
Note: The goal is to create more impact in raising awareness for the situation of refugee researchers among staff, and up the possibility of the respective research and higher education institutions joining (additional) networks. Therefore this type of information can also be useful for general awareness raising and national lobbying purposes.
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This overview ranges from information on language courses, support and information services for academic recognition to research and higher education funding programmes as well as to academic mentoring and training programmes available for refugee researchers.
A map of the initiatives and activities of higher education institutions and related networks and organisations in supporting refugee students, researchers and academic staff. It provides resources to mentoring programmes, internship programmes and training.
CARe - Career Advancement for Refugee Researchers in Europe
The CARe project (Career Advancement for Refugee Researchers in Europe) aims to support the integration of researchers with a refugee background into the European research labour market. It provides needs-based guidance and country-specific information on employment requirements and opportunities for the target group, through Focus groups engaging refugee researchers; country guides/information sheets; and thematic webinars involving experts and employers.
Guiding Refugees via European Exchange and Training (GREET)
GREET Aims to contribute to the integration of highly skilled refugees in European higher education through mutual learning and exchange of good practices among national support structures and higher education institutions (HEIs) in 9 European countries (Austria, Belgium/Flanders Germany, Greece, Finland, France, Norway, Sweden and the UK).
Scholars at Risk is an international network of institutions and individuals whose mission it is to protect scholars and promote academic freedom. By arranging temporary academic positions at member universities and colleges, Scholars at Risk offers safety to scholars facing grave threats, so scholars’ ideas are not lost and they can keep working until conditions improve and they are able to return to their home countries. Scholars at Risk also provides advisory services for scholars and hosts, campaigns for scholars who are imprisoned or silenced in their home countries, monitoring of attacks on higher education communities worldwide, and leadership in deploying new tools and strategies for promoting academic freedom and improving respect for university values everywhere.
InSPIREurope is a Europe-wide initiative to support researchers who are at risk due to discrimination, persecution, suffering or violence. Funded under the European Commission’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the initiative is hosted at Maynooth University in Ireland and coordinated by Scholars at Risk Europe. InSPIREurope also published a report Researchers at Risk: Mapping Europe's Response. This report is based on a mapping conducted to identify the support structures and measures available to researchers at risk in Europe. To this purpose, the experiences of researchers themselves, of their hosts - usually higher education and research institutions - and of support organisations have been taken into consideration, including the challenges they face, as well as the approaches taken by national and Europen level support measures.
inHERE Higher Education supporting Refugees in Europe
inHERE strengthens knowledge sharing, peer-support and academic partnership to facilitate integration and access of refugees in European Universities. It tries to map the relevant European initiatives for refugee students and researchers, and projects to provide an overview and analysis of the existing services and their scope and range.
The Nydansk Association (Foreningen Nydansker), an educational and vocational membership organization with over 100 private and public companies that supports the integration of immigrants in the labor market, regularly collaborates with companies on mentoring programs for highly educated refugees.
EUA map (Belgium / international)
EUA provides a map the initiatives and activities of higher education institutions and related networks and organisations in supporting refugee students, researchers and academic staff. It provides resources to mentoring programmes, internship programmes and training.
Provides funding for selected institutions in the Netherlands for the employment of refugees with an academic background for a project for a duration of up to one year in order to contribute to making Dutch science and the academic labour market accessible to refugee scientists with demonstrable refugee status.
MOOCs4inclusion is a study, commissioned by the European Commission, the Directorate General Joint Research Centre (DG JRC), which aims at assessing the adequacy (mapping and analyzing) of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Free Digital Learning (FDL) for inclusion of migrants and refugees.
EURAXESS Career development resources for organizations
This EURAXESS platform offers important information for career development for organizations.
Online tools for supporting mentors of refugee researchers
- for academic coaches: Online Basic Tool | Online Advanced Tool
- for industrial coaches: Online Basic Tool | Online Advanced Tool
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
The Philipp Schwartz Initiative at the Alexander Humboldt Foundation (Germany) provides universities and research institutions in Germany with the means to host threatened foreign researchers for a period of 24 months on a fully funded research fellowship. An extension is possible under a co-financing model.
BRiDGE Projects (BRiDGE I & BRiDGE II)
BRiDGE gives an all-in-one solution for the localized guidance of refugee researchers (RRs) in the European Research Area (ERA) and enables the 40 EURAXESS country members in the ERA to identify and utilize the potential of RRs across Europe. It offers information resources, bridging programmes, mentoring programmes, internship programmes and training.
Cara – Council for At-Risk Academics
The Council for At-Risk Academics is a charitable British organisation. It provides urgently-needed help to academics in immediate danger, those forced into exile, and to many who choose to work on in their home countries despite serious risks. Cara also supports higher education institutions whose work is at risk or compromised. It also offers information resources and support for recognition.
- EURAXESS National Portal Turkey (Turkey)
German Academic Exchange Service DAAD
The DAAD has developed a set of targeted measures to enable universities to offer those who wish to study and possess sufficient academic qualification access to higher education.
Information for refugees, University of Copenhagen
Information for refugees about study programmes and job opportunities at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Mapping Funds for at-Risk Scholars
Mapping Funds is a collaborative digital mapping effort to analyse diversified support networks and funds attributed to At-Risk Scholars in Turkey. It aims to sustain continuity of scientific production of at-Risk Scholars, expand the dialogue among scholar commons and open space for actors that construct the edges around the nodes.
The Pause programme offers funds and help to academic and research institutions wishing to welcome researchers who are in a situation of life-threatening emergency. Funds are important part of the researcher's salary. The programme also provides information and administrative help.
Refugee Support Initiative "Welcome", Zagreb
The initiative provides support to refugees - from humanitarian aid, coordination with local organizations, as well as information to refugees about current entry to exit procedures from Croatia. They also co-ordinate with the Croatian Red Cross, the Asylum Coordination and the institutions. Additionally, the web site - welcome.cms.hr - is being published for public communication as well, where news stories are updated and published.
Science4Refugees in Aegean Archipelago (SCIREA)
The objective of this project is through a series of seminars, webinars and short research stays to help refugees scientists to re-integrate in the research era of Europe, to get familiar with the European academic and research system and to improve their skills and entrepreneurship. The project has published an SCIREA E-Book. The E-Book is available in English, Farsi and Arabic and offers the chapters "Information on CV preparation", "How to study in Europe" and "How to find a job in Europe". Additionally the project has published three webinars on "How to create a CV", "The european asylum system and the Italian experience" and "How to find job in Europe".
Student Refugees believes that education should be accessible to all in Denmark, regardless of background. It offers two programmes: Application Café (personal guidance and provision of information) and the Buddy programme (activities and workshops for the buddy teams throughout the semester)
UNESCO-TWAS is leading the Science in Exile initiative, in collaboration with the International Science Council (ISC) and the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP). It aims to create a network of like-minded organizations that will work together to develop a global platform and roll out a coordinated advocacy campaign, in order to foster a cohesive response for the support and integration of refugee, displaced and at-risk scientists. Just recently the World Academy of Sciences (UNESCO-TWAS) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) launch the 2021 Young Refugee and Displaced Scientists Programme for Women.
Migration Matters produces short, educational videos on topics related to migration, diversity, and belonging. All are available free to the public.
Cara – Council for At-Risk Academics
The Council for At-Risk Academics is a charitable British organisation, it provides urgently-needed help to academics in immediate danger, those forced into exile, and to many who choose to work on in their home countries despite serious risks. Cara also supports higher education institutions whose work is at risk or compromised. It also offers information resources and support for recognition.
Council of Higher Education (Turkey)
Offers support for recognition
Guide to diploma recognition, Denmark
The Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education provides assessments of foreign qualifications.
Scholars at Risk Network – SAR (USA / international)
Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of more than 500 universities, colleges, research centres and associations in 39 countries collectively working to protect threatened scholars and to promote academic freedom and related higher education values.
Swissuniversities provides recommendations of recognition for foreign higher education qualifications as well as a diploma background report for refugees with insufficient documentation.
Caritas Integration Support (Bulgaria)
Caritas Sofia Center for Integration of Refugees and Migrants “St. Anna” provides social counselling, psychological support, Bulgarian language courses, address registration, personal physician registration, home and employment assistance, art activities, a mentoring programmes and other activities supporting the integration process in the Bulgarian society.
CBSI Sprongcenter - City of Copenhagen Language School
The job center offers advanced Danish language education for foreigners who receive unemployment benefits, cash benefits or integration benefits.
DAAD NRWege, Germany (Information only availabel in German)
The funding programme enabled NRW universities from 2017 to 2022 to offer study guidance for refugees and German language courses in preparation for as well as during studies. Language Courses in Universities up to C1 (Admission threshold).
SU-The Danish Students' Grants and Loans Scheme
Language courses for refugees are 100% sponsored by the municipalities in Denmark.
Greek Language Courses at the University of the Aegean
The link provides information with regard to the attendance of courses offered by the University of the Aegean on learning the Modern Greek language, as well as to the organization of classes for both absolute beginners and more advanced speakers.
“Foreningen Nydansker” Mentoring Program
The Nydansk Association (Foreningen Nydansker), an educational and vocational membership organization in Denmark with over 100 private and public companies supports the integration of immigrants in the labor market and regularly collaborates with companies on mentoring programs for highly educated refugees. A hands-on guide on mentoring highy skilled refugees can be downloaded here.
Horizon académique (Switzerland)
An academic and social integration programme, first offered to people in the asylum field (N, F, B-refugee or C refugee permit) who have had to interrupt a degree course, university studies in their country and / or who have already completed one or more courses.
REST project – Refugee Employment Support and Training
The REST project focuses on employment and integration of refugees in the labour market and provides workshops and matchmaking events with employers in order to create and apply a comprehensive training and support system for enterprises and organisations that want to employ and integrate refugees at their workplaces.
- NWO: Hestia - Impulse for Refugees in Science
A project leader and/or main applicant of a research project already funded by NWO or ZonMw can apply for funding for the appointment of a refugee with an academic background on his/her project for the duration of 18 months (or 24 months parttime). The refugee should have an asylum residence permit as described in chapter 6 of the call for proposals.
DFG – German Research Foundation (Germany)
The DFG is the self-governing organisation for science and research in Germany. It serves all branches of science and the humanities. DFG offers options for scientists and academics who have fled their home countries. So far this has allowed mainly young refugees in the doctoral phase to get support by being integrated in established projects.
Institute of International Education IIE – Scholar Rescue Fund
Offers dedicated scholarship programmes for refugees.
Philipp Schwartz Initiative of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
The Philipp Schwartz Initiative provides universities and research institutions in Germany with the means to host threatened foreign researchers for a period of 24 months on a fully funded research fellowship. An extension is possible under a co-financing model.
"The Science4Refugees" initiative and EURAXESS portal provide research refugee friendly internships, part-time and full-time jobs, access to an European Research Community, as well as a complete range of information and support services on working and living in Europe."
SU – The Danish students' Grants and Loans Scheme
Language courses for refugees are 100% sponsored by the municipalities in Denmark.
TUBITAK National Funding Mechanisms
Offers national funding mechanisms for foreigners and those programmes have specific panels for refugees.
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This collection is a result of the BRiDGEII-Project. It includes information on existing career development services and career opportunities in the academic and non-academic sector in participating countries that could be of relevance for researchers at risk.
Information on career development for researchers and organisations, including many tools and resources also on career opportunities outside academia as well as policy recommendations can be accessed on the EURAXESS website on career development.
- The Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW)
The Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) offers international incoming fellowships in order to allow excellent researchers from all over the world to come to Austria. - oead4refugees
With oead4refugees the OeAD provides an overview for refugees who are living in Austria and want to study here or have their degree recognised in Austria. OeAD wants to support people who are in the middle of an asylum procedure or have already completed it to identify educational chances and take advantage of them. Through oead4refugees, refugees can find general information about higher education in Austria, financial support options and housing for students. - MORE-Courses – An initiative by Universities Austria uniko
More-Courses offer refugees access to selected courses at state universities in Austria. Participants are admitted as non-degree students and might be able to pursue a degree later on. MORE is open to asylum-seekers, recognised refugees, people who have been granted subsidiary protection and people who have been granted temporary leave to remain ("Duldung"). - MORE-Perspectives – An initiative by Universities Austria uniko
More-perspectives enables refugee academics and scientists to connect with members of Austrian universities.
- Gent University
Refugees are welcome at Ghent University to study, to obtain a doctorate (PhD) or to carry out research. There is no specific reduction fee for refugee students, but students with official refugee status or subsidiary protection status might be eligible for the scholarship tuition fee. - The Refugee Student Programme, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The programme consists of facilitating access to higher education for prospective students with a refugee background by providing tailor-made guidance in choosing their academic programme, support with the registration system, and an open-door policy for help and advice before and throughout their studies. - Welcome Desk for Refugees, Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Welcome Desk for Refugees helps all refugee students with their administrative procedures before, during, and after their enrolment at ULB. It has a designated person of contact within each faculty. Refugee students also receive help finding housing and obtaining scholarships. - Courses geared to refugees, Université Liège
As mastery of the language is the first integration vector in a new environment, ULiège offers those who are engaged in a university training process the possibility to reach the legal French level (level B2) required for admission. For doctorate and research activities the Refugee Office directs candidates toward the relevant departments, including the Research and Development Administration. - University of Antwerp
This website offers information for refugee students who are interested in studying at the University of Antwerp. - KU Leuven
Offers information for refugess who wish to start a study programme at KU Leuven university. - KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts
This website offers information for refugee students who are interested in studying at the KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts. - UCLL University of Applied Sciences and Arts
This website offers information on studying at the UCLL University of Applied Sciences and Arts. - Scholars at Risk Flanders Section
Through the partnership with Scholars at Risk (SAR), academic leaders, faculty, students and staff in the universities of Flanders and the Brussels Capital Region send a strong message of solidarity with scholars and universities in situations where academic freedom is restricted and research, publication, teaching and learning are repressed. Together with Scholars at Risk members at more than 500 institutions in 43 countries around the world, they commit themselves to make a difference.
- Caritas Sofia Center for Integration of Refugees and Migrants “St. Anna”
For persons granted refugee or humanitarian status there is a Caritas Sofia Center for Integration of Refugees and Migrants “St. Anna” in the town of Sofia that provides social counselling, psychological support, Bulgarian language courses, address registration, personal physician registration, home and employment assistance, art activities, mentoring program and other activities supporting the integration process in the Bulgarian society.
- Centre for the Integration of Refugees „SOL“
The Centre for the Integration of Refugees SOL promotes intercultural understanding and mutual learning by bringing refugees and Croatian citizens together. SOL also offers practical trainings and workshops to strengthen people’s skills and prepare them to overcome challenges that come with integrating in new cultural and linguistic communities, job markets and schools. - Refugee Support Initiative "Welcome", Zagreb
The "Welcome" Refugee Support Initiative brings together individuals and civil society organisations to provide support to refugees in the field. Together with the Institute for the Development of Education (IRO), the "Welcome!" civil society initiative aims to advocate the development of sustainable education policies tailored to the specific needs of refugees as vulnerable groups in access to higher education.
- Integration Training Programme (IGU)
The Basic Integration Training Programme (IGU) is a two-year course which has been offered since 1st July 2016. The IGU is a complement to work experience and wage subsidised positions and aims to improve the chances of refugees to find permanent jobs in Denmark. When the employee is finished after 2 years, he receives a training certificate. The company receives a bonus of DKK 20,000 after the first 6 months of the course and again once the IGU has been completed. - University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen encourages refugees in Denmark to look for vacant positions at the University of Copenhagen. Recruitment at the University of Copenhagen is based upon an open, transparent and merit-based procedure. - University of Copenhagen - Dual Career ~ Spouse Network
University of Copenhagen welcomes all partners and spouses of International Employees of the University of Copenhagen to the Dual Career ~ Spouse Network. This network is aimed to provide support in understanding and benefitting from the networking opportunities in Denmark. It will aid one's professional and social aspirations, with customised programs organised by the team. - University of Copenhagen - Job Search and Career Counselling
ISM, through the career counselling program, will be able to assist refugees in understanding this process, gaining the needed skills and knowledge in order to embark on a career in Denmark. - CBSI Sprogcenter - City of Copenhagen
The job centre offers Danish training to foreigners who receive unemployment benefits, cash benefits or integration benefits. - Guide to diploma recognition - Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education
The Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education provides assessments of foreign qualifications. - Mentoring program for highly educated refugees - Nydansk Association (Foreningen Nydansker)
The Nydansk Association (Foreningen Nydansker), an educational and vocational membership organization with over 100 private and public companies that supports the integration of immigrants in the labor market, regularly collaborates with companies on mentoring programmes for highly educated refugees. The mentor programme runs for 6 months as a joint coordinated effort, where the company's employees have the opportunity to volunteer as a mentor for a highly educated refugee within the same professional field. DTU Career Mentoring Program is a collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark. - Student Refugees
Student Refugees believes that education should be accessible to all in Denmark, regardless of their background. It offers two programmes: Application Café (personal guidance and provision of information) and Buddy programme (activities and workshops for the buddy teams throughout the semester).
- Finnish National Agency for Education - SIMHE - Supporting Immigrants in Higher Education in Finland
SIMHE is aiming to enhance the identification and recognition of prior learning of highly educated immigrants of different statuses and make it easier to direct immigrants to higher education on national and regional levels. - Startup Refugees
Startup Refugees is a life-changing social innovation founded in Finland. They are an expanding network of driven professionals with a mission. Startup Refugees harnesses the human capital of refugees, combines it with local entrepreneurship and creates new opportunities and more jobs for everyone.
- Collège de France - Programme national d’aide à l’Accueil en Urgence des Scientifiques en Exil (PAUSE)
The PAUSE program (National program for the urgent aid and reception of scientists in exile), established on January 16, 2017, awards stimulus funding to higher education establishments and public research organizations who plan to host scientists at risk, and supports their activities.
- Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
This foundation promotes academic cooperation between excellent scientists and scholars from abroad and from Germany. Their research fellowships and research awards allow you to come to Germany to work on a research project you have chosen yourself together with a host and collaborative partner. As an intermediary organisation for German foreign cultural and educational policy this foundation promotes international cultural dialogue and academic exchange. - Philipp Schwarz Initiative
The Philipp Schwartz Initiative provides universities and research institutions in Germany with the means to host threatened foreign researchers for a period of 24 months on a fully funded research fellowship. An extension is possible under a co-financing model. - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service)
Information on various kinds of DAAD funding for foreign students, graduates and postdocs as well as on funding offered by other selected organisations. - German Research Foundation
The DFG facilitates the participation of scientists and academics who have fled their home countries in research projects. All project leaders and higher education institutions can submit supplemental proposals to integrate qualified refugees – whether researchers in training or established researchers – in existing DFG-funded projects. These proposals may be justified by the fact that additional persons are now available whose participation would make a valuable contribution to the project. - VolkswagenStiftung (Volkswagen Foundation - completed
Funding for Refugee Scholars and Scientists up to 2 or 3 years (depending on funding opportunity). - Otto Benecke Foundation eV - Academic immigration & Social integration
The Otto Benecke Foundation was founded in 1965 on the initiative of German student associations. Since then, they have welcomed more than 500,000 immigrants, refugees, members of minorities, and young people in special educational, counselling, exchange, and scholarship programs, promoted their social inclusion, and given them a future career. They are developing integration programs and qualification programs, especially in the fields of youth work, parenting, education and the labour market - in close cooperation with immigrant organizations. - University of Cologne - Career Mentoring – Program for Scholars at Risk
This program aims at providing support in career planning for researchers who have taken refuge in Germany. The various offers include mentoring partnerships, advanced training/ workshops, networking opportunities, information and documentation resources, and individual coaching. - German language courses - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service)
German language courses are organised as Summer or Winter school in many cities in Germany. There are A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 level courses. For some courses scholarships are available. - DAAD NRWege - completed
The funding programme enables NRW universities to offer study guidance for refugees and German language courses in preparation for as well as during studies. Language Courses in Universities up to C1 (Admission threshold). - Mapping Funds for At-Risk-Scholars
Mapping Funds is a collaborative digital mapping effort to analyse diversified support networks and funds attributed to At-Risk Scholars in Turkey. It aims to sustain continuity of scientific production of at-Risk Scholars, expand the dialogue among scholar commons and open space for actors that construct the edges around the nodes.
- University of the Aegean - The Scirea Project
The SCIREA project, with the UAeg acting as coordinator, focuses on skilled refugees and helps to integrate them into European academic institutions and to improve their qualifications. Tailor-made seminars and webinars are implemented, and scholarships are given to refugee scientists to restart their academic career.
- OLiVe Central European University
The Open Learning Initiative (OLIve) at Central European University focuses on opening access to higher education for refugees and asylum seekers. Established in January 2016, it runs two non-degree programs. The Weekend Programme (OLIve-WP) is designed for asylum seekers and refugees in Hungary. The University Preparatory Programme (OLIve-UP) is full-time (10 months/AY), fully-funded and accepts students with a refugee status from any of the European Economic Area countries.
- Dutch Research Council (NWO Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek)
With this short-term funding, refugee academics can join current research projects funded by NWO or ZonMw and build up a network. They can share knowledge and expertise, become familiar with the Dutch science system and restart their interrupted career or line of research. At the same time these academics enrich Dutch science with their expertise. - UAF
The UAF has been providing support to refugee students and professionals in their studies and in finding suitable employment on the Dutch labour market since 1948. This organisation advises refugees based on their knowledge and experience, and builds bridges between refugees, educational institutions, (local) governments and employers. - AcademicTransfer
AcademicTransfer is the job board for a career in research and higher education in the Netherlands; for every academic, at every stage in their career and in every sector. On AcademicTransfer, you'll find jobs in higher education, university medical centres, research institutes and the industry.
- OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University
OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University offer a program called “Akademisk dugnad” meaning Academic volunteering. Akademisk Dugnad is a contribution to make a better and more secure life for those who arrive to Norway. Measures has been taken to provide completive education for nursing-, engineering-and teacher education. This is an offer to those who have started or completed an education in their home country and will help them to complete their studies and be able to work in Norway. In addition, it offers refugees Norwegian language courses at the level necessary to be admitted to take higher education in Norway. It also offer language cafes, language tandems, social integration events, courses to understand the Norwegian culture, career advising and coming up events on exchange experiences with other refugees. - Jobbnorge
This company’s customers are private companies and public companies throughout the country. By registering, your CV on their website you can search for vacant positions. Through the job search, vacancies within the desired category, geographical location or industry can be found.
- Portugal Refugee support at University of Coimbra
The University of Coimbra (UC) created a special channel for students, academics and professionals with refugee status under the Geneva Convention and applicable Portuguese Law. The special channel provides: Portuguese language courses, recognition of prior higher education qualifications and access to graduate and post-graduate programmes.
- Universidad de Jaén
Academic, financial and psychological support to international refugee students and staff belonging to double-risk populations due to their adscription to a minority. Grant and scholarship program that is directed to refugee students belonging to populations at double-risk. Employment opportunities for researchers and HEI staff.
- A till Ö Jobb & Rekrytering AB (A to Z Job & Recruitment AB)
This company starts from a persons needs and interests and builds on the expertise and experience that a person has. They map and identify opportunities in the job market and they also get to know the person who is seeking a job. Based on this, they work actively on a common plan, and use their network to find jobs that are right for this person. - Arbetsförmedlingen (Swedish Public Employment Service)
The Swedish Public Employment Agency’s (Arbetsförmedlingen) offers support to people looking for work. It offers information, advice and support. Then there are many privately run job sites commonly used to find a job in Sweden. These websites usually include job listings (often in Swedish) and functions where you can upload your CV. - Mitt Liv
Mitt Liv is a social enterprise working for an inclusive society and a job market that values diversity. Mitt Liv offers job positions and mentorship programs. - Mitt Livs Chans
Mitt Livs Chans, is a mentorship programme for individuals with a foreign background who do not have a job befitting their qualifications, contacts and networks. The programme is at no cost to the mentees and is financed by Mitt Livs’ partners (businesses and organisations), who understand the value and benefits of increased diversity in the workplace. - Uppsala University CareerGate
UU CareerGate is a job site for students and recent graduates from UU. The job site is a collaboration between Uppsala University and Graduateland ApS. Students have the opportunity to create a personal profile and customize their pages based on study orientation, competencies and job desires. They can expose themselves to future employers. They can also subscribe to ads from hundreds of different companies and thus be updated on relevant jobs that are right for them. - Arcus
Arcus offers support and matching service, they help people find a job or education that matches their past experiences, conditions and needs. Arcus offers personal support from an experienced supervisor who has a large and wide contact network. Together with the study and career counsellor, you develop a plan for how to find a suitable job or suitable education. - Mentor program University friend Gothenburg Integration Center, City of Gothenburg
As a newcomer in Sweden, the step to university studies can be perceived as complicated and far. Through contact with a mentor and university friend, refugees can gain informal knowledge and be strengthened in their goal on the road to higher studies.
- The Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW)