South East Technological University (SETU) has officially launched its Sanctuary Scholarship programme, providing eight scholarships each year to refugees, asylum seekers, other migrants and those living in international protection.
The scholarships, available at undergraduate level across SETU’s campuses in Carlow, Waterford, and Wexford, reflect the University’s commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Through the Sanctuary Scholarships programme, the goal is to create a more inclusive learning environment and inspire students to achieve their academic aspirations. The launch occurred at an event to celebrate Refugees in Education Day, organised by Monica Rudi Kent and Dr Méabh Savage, who are both members of the Sanctuary Committee.
Through her role as the Honorary Chair in equality and access to education for women and girls, Dr Savage has been engaging in a participatory photo voice project with mothers living in direct provision to identify the barriers to accessing education and ways to remove them. Enhancing accessibility through the Sanctuary Scholarships is an important step to remove some of those barriers.
Hope
During the launch, held recently at SETU’s College Street Campus in Waterford, Dr Allison Kenneally, Vice President for Equality Diversity & Inclusion expressed how the event embodied a narrative of “resilience, hope, and advancement”.
“Many refugees navigate obstacles to access education across our country. At SETU we are committed to working to remove those obstacles, and to ensure that our university becomes a place of sanctuary, hope, and fulfilment for the refugee community in our region,” said Dr Kenneally.
Under the leadership of Dr Sarah Sartori, SETU is dedicated to becoming a university of sanctuary, aligning with the principles of the Sanctuary movement. Becoming a sanctuary university will pave the way to offering more systems-wide support for students with refugee and international protection backgrounds.
“As a university community, we stand in solidarity with refugees across the globe, understanding the critical role that education must play in addressing the many challenges faced by the global refugee community. Education has the power to transform the lives of refugees and has a critical role in promoting greater social cohesion and inclusion,” Dr Kenneally added.
Inclusion
Access
Meanwhile, Ann Hayes from Waterford Immigration Network, a voluntary network that supports the integration of internal protection applicants and refugees, emphasised the importance of access to education, particularly to migrants and those in direct provision.
Showcasing cultural diversity formed part of the proceedings. Roseline and a group from Nigeria, based in the Shalom centre in Carrick-On-Suir, danced to the music of the video Eko Dara Pupo. Barby, and a group from El Salvador, also based in the Shalom centre, showed a painting of the maquilishuat, the traditional tree from El Salvador. Natalia Ruda and Yuliia Palahuta, professional singers from Ukraine, sang traditional Ukrainian songs.
Osas Usideme from the Intercultural Health Hub in Waterford and South Tipperary Youth Services, talked about her experience getting a third-level qualification in Northern Ireland, while Daniel Omoregbe, from Benin City in Southern Nigeria, sang in Bini language.
Before the event was brought to a close, Csilla Czelvikker, the Ukrainian Response coordinator for Waterford City and County Council recited a poem in Hungarian and talked about the launch of Waterford New Communities Network.
SETU is offering scholarships to refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants in support of the Institute of Sanctuary initiative which aims to welcome refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants into our college community. Sanctuary scholarships are open to both new CAO entrants and continuing students at www.setu.ie/sanctuary-academic-scholarship
All photos George Goulding, SETU