A project by Birkbeck, University of London, dedicated to helping refugees access higher education won the Guardian University Awards in the Widening Access and Outreach category.

Launched in 2016, when the refugee crisis-hit Europe, the Compass Project aims to reach out to asylum seekers with advice and guidance – and through its Compass Project Fund, offers 20 scholarships a year for refugees who are not eligible for student finance.

“The Compass Project is a continuation of Birkbeck’s mission,” project coordinator Naureen Abubacker told The PIE News, “providing a platform to accessing education for those who want to better themselves, regardless of their background.

“We are hoping that the outcome of this cohort [of students] will inspire other universities to take a more flexible approach”

The Compass Project team consulted with several organizations – such as Article 26, Student Action for Refugees and Refugee Support Network – to gain an understanding of the challenges faced by forced migrants and to plan what information, advice and guidance would be needed.

The first cohort of 20 students have started in October 2017.

“They are an incredibly diverse group of students,” Abubaker said.

“Their situations are so volatile – the lack of stability means that we’ve had to provide tailored support on a case by case basis.”

Each participant has been provided with an academic mentor who meets with them at least once a month and a dedicated case worker for intensive support and guidance all the way through from application to graduation and beyond.

With many of the students unable to access bank accounts because of their immigration status, Abubacker explained, support offered by the project included organising travel arrangements and, through a partnership with the charity Refugees at Home, finding accommodation through host families.

The project has been given funding for three years – donors include Allen & Overy, AlixPartners and The Blanes Trust – and will continue to offer 20 scholarships a year and engage in outreach activities to raise awareness of the opportunity.

The team has started working closely with other organizations such as RefuAid and Women for Refugee Women.

The Compass Project team is also speaking at working groups and conferences on the challenges forced migrants face when accessing higher education, especially lack of documentation and inability to access funding. This is particularly important to encourage other universities to reach out and engage with this particular group, Abubacker added.

One of the changes Abubacker and her team are advocating for is the need for universities to deliver ‘foundation level’ courses with flexible entry requirements for those seeking asylum.

“We are hoping that the outcome of this cohort [of students] will inspire other universities to take a more flexible approach when considering mature learners who present with a wealth of experience, but may not be able to evidence with documentation,” she said.