The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR has announced that 35 Italian universities will take part in the fifth edition of University for Refugees (UNICORE) -- a scholarship program designed to enable refugee students to continue their higher education in Italy. The selection process is based on both merit and motivation.
This year, the UNICORE program made 61 placements available to refugee students from Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The project says provides safe and regular pathways of entry into Italy for people fleeing war, violence and persecution, with the overall aim of increasing the share of refugees enrolled in higher education to 15% in countries of first asylum claims and in third countries by 2030.
UNHCR said the UNICORE program was created as a pilot project in 2019, involving six refugees and two universities. Since then, it has expanded to offer a total of 180 scholarships for refugees, with 40 Italian higher education institutions getting involved since its inception.
'Improving lives through education'
Bernice, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), spoke of how the success of the program had ripple effects that spread out all the way to her family back home:
"My mother always believed in education but when things became difficult, my brother had to abandon school and find a job to help us," she explained. The young refugee then went on to do her best in school "not just for myself, but for him and for my mother."
Bernice said she wanted to show to her brother that his sacrifice meant a lot to her: "When I learned about the UNICORE project, it was a dream came true. I had always hoped I would be able to continue my studies, to have the possibility of assisting people and of improving the quality of their lives through education," she said.
Application deadline still open
Students are supported in their integration process and university life during the two-year program with the help of a significant network of local partners.
Furthermore, before arriving in Italy after the summer, selected students start remote Italian language tuition which isprovided by the Universities for Foreigners of Perugia and Siena, and by Notre Dame University.
The UNICORE program was made possible by UNHCR with the cooperation of the Italian foreign ministry, the Italian Catholic charity Caritas, the Valdensian community, the Astalli Centre, Banca Etica and the Gandhi charity.
For those who are interested, the closing date for applications is May 19, 2023. Further information is available on the UNICORE website.