The new calls for scholarships made available by 39 Italian universities are opening today, participating in the sixth edition of the UNICORE - University Corridors for Refugees project to give 67 refugees the opportunity to continue their academic career in Italy by attending a master's degree program lasting two years old.
The students, currently refugees in Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, will be selected on the basis of merit and motivation, and will arrive in Italy in September 2024.
The University Corridors for Refugees program is coordinated by UNHCR , UN Agency for Refugees, and is made possible thanks to the collaboration with partners such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Caritas Italiana, Diaconia Valdese, Centro Astalli, Fondazione Finanza Etica and Gandhi Charity.
According to UNHCR estimates, on average people forced to flee war and persecution remain in exile for around 20 years.
76% of the world's refugees live in low- and middle-income countries where too often the opportunities to rebuild their future in dignity are absent.
In fact, regarding access to education, the global data remain dramatic: only 6% of refugees have access to tertiary education compared to 40% of the non-refugee population.
The Unicore project, therefore, was created to respond to these challenges, offering refugees the opportunity to arrive in Italy in safety and dignity to continue their studies, and rebuild their future, aspiring to a profession in line with their potential and desires.
It also aims to contribute to the achievement of a tertiary education enrollment rate for refugees of 15% by 2030.
Following an initial pilot phase in 2019, during which six students were welcomed by two universities, the project has expanded up to now involving 44 Italian universities which in six years have offered around 250 scholarships to refugee students.
In addition to scholarships, the project will provide, through a wide network of local partners, the necessary support to successfully complete the two-year master's degree program and promote the integration of students into university life.
The call will close on 15 April 2024 and all the information can be consulted on the website universitycorridors.unhcr.itThe participating universities in 2024 are:Polytechnic University of Marche - AnconaUniversity of Bari "Aldo Moro"Polytechnic of BariUniversity of BergamoUniversity of Bologna - Alma Mater StudiorumUniversity of BresciaUniversity of CagliariUniversity of Campania Luigi VanvitelliUniversity of Catania"Gabriele d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-PescaraUniversity of Eastern Piedmont, VercelliUniversity of FlorenceEuropean University Institute, FlorenceUniversity of studies of L'AquilaUniversity of MessinaUniversity of Milan - BicoccaUniversity of Milan - BocconiUniversity of Milan - La StatalePolytechnic of MilanUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaUniversity of PaduaUniversity of PalermoUniversity of ParmaUniversity for foreigners from Perugia, University of PisaMediterranean University of Reggio CalabriaUniversity of Rome, La SapienzaLuiss Guido Carli UniversityRoma Tre UniversityUniversity of Salento - LecceUniversity of SienaUniversity for Foreigners of SienaUniversity of TrentoUniversity of TurinPolytechnic of TurinUniversity of Tuscia, ViterboUniversity of Urbino Carlo BoIuav University of VeniceUniversity of Verona
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