How the Refugee Surge Affected the New Study Year 2022

Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine has massively affected not only Europe but the whole world. One of the major factors is the increased wave of refugees fleeing the war. Millions of people had to leave their homes and relocate internally and internationally. This impacts the economy, social life, and education. In this article, we’ll explore the educational aspect of this situation.

2022 Refugee Crisis

Although it is hard to have a precise number of refugees, the UN estimates that more than 4.8 million Ukrainians have left the country to find asylum internationally. The vast majority of them are women and children, as Martial Law forbids men from the ages of 18 to 60 to leave the country during wartime.

There is also a significant number of people that have already headed back to Ukraine – roughly about 2 million. So it is difficult to establish how many refugees there are currently. And Ukraine is not the only destination where people come from. There are many other countries affected by violent conflicts, which results in people relocating to protect themselves.

Other countries of international refugees are:

• Syria;

• Venezuela;

• Palestine;

• Afghanistan;

• South Sudan;

• Myanmar;

• Sudan;

• Somalia.

The majority of them seek asylum because of war and violent conflicts.

Refugees and Education: Main Struggles

Such massive migrations impact education in the country of origin and the country of asylum. Pupils and students need to find a new place to get an education and integrate into a new system.

This comes with major challenges of a new language, culture, educational system, and fees. It is not easy for new students to adjust to a completely different environment. For instance, they might struggle with curriculum and written assignments in a foreign language. In such cases, there are ways to get help, as platforms like WritePaper deliver academic writing assistance to all students in need. Whether they have English as their first or second language, students often have issues when it comes to essays, term papers, and case studies.

Professional writers offer writing, editing, and proofreading help on the shortest notice. This is a great way to seek guidance and expert assistance while getting the best results.

Yet, this is not the only issue refugee students face. Some of the major challenges are:

• Getting access to quality education, whether it is school or college;

• Preparing necessary documents for applications;

• Dealing with stress and declining grades due to traumatic experiences;

• Matter of adjustment to a new community and meeting new friends;

• Dealing with the emotional and financial implications of such change in life.

For example, not every refugee has access to essential technology that makes education easier. Some might not have a laptop or computer, which makes the workflow much harder for them.

At the same time, such circumstances highlight the importance of EdTech adoption worldwide. For instance, the Ukrainian internal educational system greatly suffers from the Russian invasion. Schools and universities are destroyed, and many students are relocated internally as well. The usual day in school is disrupted by air sirens and the necessity to go to a bomb shelter instead of a lesson.

That’s why a lot of institutions offer partially or fully online courses, as they come with more flexibility and safety. A relocated student can still get an education digitally. This is not viewed as ideal, but it helps to keep the process going as it is essential for the country’s development.

Higher Education

There are two types of college and university students when it comes to refugees – those who applied before the conflict and those who apply after they’ve found asylum.

The difference mainly affects the students themselves. Those who applied and were accepted to universities abroad had major challenges with travel and documents. Some had to go to the nearest countries to apply for student visas and travel from there. However, universities and colleges all over the world were helpful in this regard. Some covered the travel and accommodation costs.

Those young people who moved to another country had to integrate into a new educational system. Schools had to accept new students and offer some kind of integration programs for children in need.

However, with a college education, it is a bit more difficult. In many countries, it is not funded by the government, and many institutions have various applications specific a foreigner might not be aware of. That’s why major programs need to be launched at all levels – to provide inclusivity and equity in education worldwide.

This is essential for young adults to contribute to the country’s economy or have the means to rebuild their country of origin after the war is over.

Measures Taken in Different Countries

The majority of Ukrainian refugees are fleeing to neighboring countries like Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, and Romania. Some also go to the UK and the US. Every country that hosts refugees has launched several initiatives to help people adjust and receive a quality education as well.

USA

Many schools and colleges in America offer help to Ukrainian students. The newest IIE report states that there are at least 559 schools and 120 universities that have such programs. This includes:

• Help with applications;

• Eased application requirements;

• Help with documents;

• Expanded financial aid;

• Increased number of seats for Ukrainian students.

For example, the University of Chicago started a $20 million program that covers tuition needs for this group of applicants. And Hampton University in Virginia invited 100 affected students during the summer and offered them free education during this period.

UK

The major change taken in the UK is the acceptance of Ukrainian refugees under the same conditions as home students. This means the same fee status, which makes higher education here much more accessible.

They also will have the same access to financial help as student loans. And the English institutions received 4 million pounds from the government to support Ukrainian learners.

Germany

As for higher education in Germany, 6 universities volunteer to assist Ukrainian refugees. This includes:

• Financial support;

• Scholarships;

• Counseling services;

• Eased application process;

• Studies;

• Help with acquiring residence permissions;

• Assistance with accommodation, studies, and finding jobs.

Poland

Poland has accepted the biggest number of Ukrainians since February. The country welcomes students and teachers to join the scholarly system here. A lot of institutions launched programs to help people in need in various ways, from offering housing to collecting medical supplies and giving legal aid. There is also huge governmental support for Ukrainians fleeing the war.

Refugees can learn the language and enter Polish universities or continue their studies here. Poland has become a second home for many affected by war.

In Summary

The new wave of refugees caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine has disrupted many processes, including education. A lot of institutions have to adjust to the new reality and integrate new students comfortably.

At the same time, those affected have to overcome major problems to fully adjust to a new society, culture, and scholarly system. Luckily, a lot of countries adopted governmental programs to solve this issue. Also, a lot of institutions launched their own initiatives to help those in need.