Education in e-learning mode for refugees

In the 21st century, e-learning continues to play an important role in ensuring respect for the right to education, even for refugees who, in this way, can quickly integrate into the societies of the host countries and enter the world of business work.

Education in e-learning mode for refugees

In the 21st century, e-learning continues to play an important role in ensuring respect for the right to education, even for refugees who, in this way, can quickly integrate into the societies of the host countries and enter the world of business work.

According to the United Nations, there are currently around 25.9 million refugees worldwide. In 2018, about half were children under 18. The United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention outlined the ten fundamental rights for refugees, including the right to education.

Iván Martín, member of the Interdisciplinary research group on immigration of the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona and curator of the research " From refugees to workers" (edited by the Migration Policy Center) which analyzes the policies implemented by some European countries (Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) to face the challenge of the job placement of asylum seekers arriving in the Old Continent starting in 2014, said: "Giving refugees the opportunity to work is the best way to get a good integration also from the social and cultural point of view. We must not forget that most of these people will remain living in Europe for a long time: giving them the tools to become first workers and then citizens is convenient for everyone".

For some years now, the governments of the USA, Germany and Italy, in collaboration with dozens of organizations, have launched various programs to offer refugees access to educational services based on e-learning, in a totally free manner. In this way, refugees from all over the world can acquire the skills necessary to find work in companies: skills that will be recognized by employers in the host countries.

Thanks to these programs, migrants and refugees can enroll in several courses of study focusing on business, IT, political science, mechanical engineering, and linguistic and social training. Through these initiatives, online courses and diplomas are offered in five languages, including Italian, English, French, Greek and Arabic. The teachers come from all over the world, some are refugees themselves, and offer their lessons through videoconferences and other interactive digital tools.

However, according to some estimates, less than 1% of university-age refugees are enrolled in a course of study, compared to the world average of 34%. To fill this gap, e-learning for refugees will have to expand: making the transition from "refugees" to "workers" requires economic resources, active labor policies, favorable legislation, greater technological infrastructures and above all a well-defined political will , in order to support the training and job placement of refugees. Failure to participate in the labor market of refugees would cause high costs for society, which is why it is important to reduce the time required to allow early entry into training courses and the corporate labor market.

 


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