80 people seeking asylum have studied or resided at UAB
During the academic year 20/21, the UAB Reception Programme has increased its actions to provide support to young people seeking asylum following the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 80 people seeking asylum took part in the activities promoted.
09/07/2021
The UAB Reception Programme, which is managed by Fundació Autònoma Solidària, works to improve university practices in defending the rights of refugees. It provides support to people seeking international protection who reside on the campus and implements a support strategy to ensure access and continuity of university studies for students and researchers seeking asylum.
This year, 61 asylum seekers resided at Vila UAB and took part in life on the Campus during their stay through the mechanism managed by CEAR/CCAR (Spanish/Catalan Refugee Commissions). Furthermore, 20 students seeking asylum were able to access UAB degree and post-graduate programmes through the #UABRefugi scholarship.
In 20/21, the Programme reinforced its support activities for young persons seeking asylum following the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, through the transfer of technology material and blended virtual and face-to-face mentoring sessions.
In addition, through educational, awareness and mobilisation actions, the Programme promotes critical knowledge about the structural causes of forced displacements and provides areas for organisation and action tools in the university community. A total of 23 curricular activities related to migration, gender, human rights, peacebuilding and anti-racism have been imparted in five UAB faculties and more than 1,000 people from the community have taken part in educational and awareness activities about these topics.
Reception Volunteering
40 UAB students took part in the programme as social mentoring or action group volunteers. Another relevant activity organised this year in which volunteers participated was the promotion of the social support pilot activity through agroecology with the Education Sciences Faculty Market Garden.
1st Call for Enginy Scholarships
Based on the conviction that university education can improve future prospects, during the course of the 20/21 academic year the above call for aid for students seeking asylum was initiated. It is financed by Fundació Caixa d’Enginyers and 11 UAB students with no financial support were able to benefit from the scholarships.
The university, an anti-rumour agent against racism
Work has been done to reinforce the role of the University in deactivating narratives which perpetuate a collective imaginary that is contrary to respect and conviviality. The Programme is a member of the BCN Antirumors network, with the aim of joining forces in the fight against rumours, stereotypes and racist attitudes. This line of action will reach its peak next autumn, with the publication of a study on hate speech during the pandemic conducted by FAS together with the Computer Vision Centre, with the support of NOVACT and financed by the Catalan Development Cooperation Agency.
This information is related to the following SDG
Reduced inequalities