What access to university do migrants have in Belgium?

Belgium has set up a range of study opportunities for people from different backgrounds. However, a number of obstacles can stand in the way of pursuing or starting a course of study. Migrants face realities that highlight the grey areas of the academic system in terms of access to education.

These problems are linked to issues that go beyond the walls of universities and resonate with the Belgian institutional and legal system. The UNIC seminar held on 24 June was designed to shed light on the difficulties faced by people from migrant backgrounds in gaining access to university, and the solutions that have been identified, by gathering first-hand accounts and holding a round table discussion with representatives from university departments, voluntary organisations and the city.

Setting the scene: mixed findings

While there is a fairly extensive range of study support services, one of the findings was that people who could benefit from them do not always know how to access them. Simon Gielis, a researcher at the University of Liège, has listed the following obstacles to accessing university: diploma equivalence, with the need for physical documents; the cost of translating documents; the language barrier; social exclusion; the problem of transmitting information, with the technical aspects that have become part of university practice (online, contactless procedures); and the complications associated with resuming studies while looking after a family.

There is support available, both at the University of Liège and elsewhere. At Mondes des possibles, the reality on the ground is well known. Economic needs often mean that a student's university career comes to a halt. Lack of residence permits also jeopardises the continuation of studies or, in the case of the children of undocumented migrants, sometimes even their commencement. Transitional solutions have recently been put in place in Belgium, with procedures that make it possible to build on the studies carried out in our country.

Good practices that encourage progress

From ULiège's "buddy programme" to Interra's "Duo2Change" project, there is a single aim: to bring together people from different cultures with the aim of creating links. Bringing together a person who has recently arrived in Belgium and a local person makes discovering a new country a more informal and personalised experience.

Interra and le Monde des Possibles are used to working to enhance the value of migrants, through their diverse and varied skills. This active network of associations is invaluable in an area like Liège, where the city is also taking steps to provide support for young people and new arrivals. As for the University, beyond the usual mechanisms, initiatives are multiplying to raise young people's awareness of international and intercultural issues: Festival of Cultures, "internationalisation at home", courses given by lecturers from abroad, etc.

Any ideas for the future?

Can the European University Alliances help to improve local situations? By sharing good practice between network partners, local customs may well evolve! In Liège, reflection on the sense of belonging is ongoing, notably through initiatives such as the "carte ardente" of the City of Liège's Social Cohesion Plan. The City of Liège can assure you that it will always remain welcoming: the "Ville hospitalière" initiative reflects the real desire of the local community to maintain an inclusive social fabric. The University of Liège, which is also "hospitable", encourages everyone to come and ask questions. Like the associations in Liège, the institution wants to welcome everyone who walks through its doors.

UNIC is therefore setting out to meet local associations and the people of Liège. Organised in the buildings of the association "Le monde des possibles", this seminar gave the floor to a diversity of profiles and organisations, who highlighted the experiences of individuals in various situations of mobility. The speakers included : Pauline Antoine (Service des Relations internationales - mobilité, ULiège); Julie Clausse, (Director of Interra, Liège); Sandrine Dachy (Service Inscriptions et Admissions, ULiège); Julie Fernandez Fernandez's collaborator (Echevine en charge des Solidarités, de la Cohésion sociale et des Droits des personnes, Ville de Liège); Simon Gielis (Researcher CEDEM - UNIC) and Pauline Mallet (Juriste à Le monde des possibles, Liège). Moderator: Elsa Mescoli (Lecturer, FaSS - Uliège).

This seminar was part of the research project Migrant Education: Challenges and Exclusion - Exploring Barriers to higher education for migrant and migrant families in post-industrial cities (UNIC4ER Seed funding), coordinated by UCC, with ULiège and Koç University as partners. Organised in Liège at the instigation of CEDEM, the project involved Le Monde des Possibles and Interra.