Abstract
Higher education is very crucial to the development of individuals and societies alike. Higher education empowers refugees to become self-reliant and agents of change instead of being passive recipients of grants or assistance. Today, more than ever, it is probable that refugees face many challenges to access higher education given Egypt’s restrictive enrollment policy, refugees’ dire economic and social situations, the diminishing durable solutions which can permanently solve refugees’ situation such as voluntary repatriation, resettlement, and local integration; and finally, the reluctance of donors to fund higher education programs. Therefore, this research attempts to explore the challenges facing African refugee students to access higher education in Egypt through using Bourdieu’s Capital Framework. This phenomenological study employs the qualitative interview method where 15 African refugee students were interviewed to capture their experiences and perspectives of the challenges preventing them from accessing higher education in Egypt. The findings of the study reveal that economic hardship is not the sole challenge facing refugees. Other reported challenges were identified and categorized into four main themes including social, economic, psychological, and procedural barriers. Based on the findings, the research offers recommendations for policy-making to facilitate refugees’ access to higher education in Egypt.
School
School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
Department
Center for Migration and Refugee Studies
Degree Name
MA in Migration & Refugee Studies
Graduation Date
Winter 2-15-2022
Submission Date
1-24-2022
First Advisor
Ibrahim Karkouti
Committee Member 1
Gerda Heck
Committee Member 2
Thomas Wolsey
Extent
91 p.
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval
Approval has been obtained for this item
Recommended Citation
APA Citation
Younes, H. E.
(2022).African Refugee Students' Access to Higher Education: Exploring their Challenges in Egypt [Master's Thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain.
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/1869
MLA Citation
Younes, Hagar El Sayed. African Refugee Students' Access to Higher Education: Exploring their Challenges in Egypt. 2022. American University in Cairo, Master's Thesis. AUC Knowledge Fountain.
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/1869