USI wins the Perspectives-Études competition for refugee support
Institutional Communication Service
20 June 2024
We are pleased to announce that Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) excelled in the second phase of the "Projects for Refugees at Universities" fund call promoted by Perspectives-Études, winning major funding for its innovative project "InclUSIone" dedicated to improving access to higher education for deserving refugee students.
Since 2022, USI has launched a pilot project enabling refugee students to take part in university courses as free auditors while improving their language skills through courses in Italian and, occasionally, English. Participants are supported by administrative tutors and low-cost access to courses is designed to facilitate the entry of qualified refugees into the labour market.
Given the escalating demand, particularly in the aftermath of the Ukraine crisis, this pilot project will now be implemented as a long-term programme. The aim is to professionalise and regulate existing processes, with a particular focus on raising the awareness of USI staff and students of the needs of refugee students.
The funding, which will be provided for two years, will enable USI's International Relations and Mobility Service to expand its activities further. As the head of the Service says, "We will use the grant to hire a new staff member, and this will help us consolidate the existing support structure and ensure a high quality of service for this special category of students."
