Higher Education and Solidarity? The Integration of Refugee Students at Austrian Universities

Abstract

The refugee streams of 2015 had a tremendous impact on European societies. In context of the influx of refugees, civil society showed large solidarity. Universities did so as well, organizing programs to accommodate asylum seekers and refugees on campus. As solidarity is necessary for social relationships and coordinating life chances in a just way, the effectiveness of such programs can only be understood, taking insights from refugee students’ experiences into account. In this article the case example of the Austrian MORE Initiative is used to tackle the question what kind of bonds refugee students see between themselves, the universities and the goal to become part of the new (host) society. Results show that refugee students are in danger of not being recognized, either because of their legal status or lack of opportunities and migrant sceptic surroundings. Programs like MORE – and universities in general – may contribute to lessen these effects.