1. Come Together: From Academic Dugnad to Academic Inclusion
Anna K. Buverud, University of Oslo

2. Autumn 2015 «We believe it is important that the refugees are received as whole people and given a chance to realize themselves. This may give refugees hope for a better future, and will ensure better integration in our society.» Ole Petter Ottersen, rector at UiO, calling for a national academic dugnad to alleviate the consequences of the refugee situation and help refugees with an academic background to enter academia.

3. Main challenges (for refugees)
Refugees arrive with higher education, but are not able to get into relevant work or further studies
Recognition issues (regulations and verification)
Admission issues (as above – and different systems)
Competence issues (having a degree is not enough to get a job)
«The Others» (how to make them one of us)

4. Main consequences (for all)
Skilled refugees end up in the unskilled sector, at the expense of unskilled refugees who end up without jobs.
This is more than a double loss!

5. Calling the banners

6. Looking for opportunities
Learning about the national system for integration and inclusion
Knocking on new doors
Identifying possibilities and translating them into «our» language
What does academia want?
What can the state – and the refugees – offer?
Creating easy programmes, using existing systems to minimize administration

7. Solution (for now)
A streamlined internship programme, Academic Practice, matching academic environments with refugees with comparable academic background – letting them work as research assistants while preparing for further studies or work
A low-threshold Academic Network programme, allowing also those that do not (yet) fit into the internship programme to navigate through Norwegian academia

8. Where is Europe? Different countries, different approaches
UNICA: Academic Dugnad
EU: Science4Refugees
EUA: Refugees Welcome Map
EAIE: Blogs, tracks, Spotlight Seminar
ESU cooperation

9. Some international lessons
Refugee’s challenges are largely the same across Europe
Institutional challenges: Leadership engagement is essential. Initiatives must be coordinated and cross-institutional
National challenges: Political climate may be hostile. HE sector could and should provide facts in the public debate.
European opportunity: The Bologna process – and Internationalisation at Home!