Paris | November 7, 2025
UNESCO has renewed its global call to ensure higher education access for displaced and crisis-affected learners, emphasising that tertiary education must be a central part of humanitarian and development responses. The call came during the UNESCO Global Dialogue on Higher Education in Emergencies, where education ministers, university leaders, and international organisations discussed strategies to strengthen academic resilience in conflict and disaster zones.
According to UNESCO data, less than 3% of refugees worldwide are enrolled in higher education, compared to 40% of non-refugee youth. The organisation warned that this gap risks creating a “lost generation” of talented learners deprived of the skills needed to rebuild their communities.
Delegates urged nations to adopt flexible learning systems, cross-border recognition of qualifications, and expanded scholarships for displaced students. They also highlighted the growing potential of digital platforms and open universities to deliver quality learning in unstable environments.
UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education said the agency is scaling up partnerships under its Global Campus for Higher Education in Emergencies, which connects universities across regions to support students affected by war, migration, and climate disasters.
“Education continuity is not only a right — it is the foundation of recovery and dignity,” the UNESCO official stated. “Higher education empowers displaced youth to rebuild their futures and contribute meaningfully to society.”
