National Strategies for Inclusion: Supporting Refugee Students in Higher Education

Описание: Host:
Gabija Lapinskaitė - EXIL Project Coordinator at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU). As project coordinator, the host brings institutional knowledge of KTU’s practices and ensures alignment with the EXIL project’s objectives on inclusion and support for displaced students.

Guest:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kristina Ukvalbergienė - Vice-Rector for Studies at Kaunas University of Technology. As Vice-Rector for Studies, she provides an expert perspective on Lithuania’s national higher education response to the refugee crisis and how national policies were practically implemented at institutional level. Her role allows her to reflect on policy, coordination, and long-term lessons learned.

The podcast focuses on national strategies for the inclusion of refugee students in higher education, using Lithuania and Kaunas University of Technology as a case study. The discussion examines how Lithuania’s higher education system reacted to the sudden influx of displaced students following the war in Ukraine, including coordinated actions by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, the State Studies Foundation, and universities.

The episode explores how national policies related to admissions, tuition funding, scholarships, and legal frameworks were implemented in practice at KTU. Particular attention is given to institutional flexibility, such as simplified admission procedures, alternative document verification, financial and housing support, language learning opportunities, psychological support, and individualized study planning.

The conversation also reflects on lessons learned from this experience, emphasizing the importance of rapid response, inter-institutional cooperation, clear communication, and balancing universal rules with individual support. The episode aligns with the EXIL project’s goal of documenting good practices and contributing to a broader European dialogue on the role of higher education institutions in responding to humanitarian crises.