Advancing Education as a Right: Sanctuary in Higher Education
The year 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which established education as a right through Article 26 (external link) . Canada then became a signatory to the UN’s International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (external link) in 1976, endorsing the right to an education for all and equal access to higher education. In nearly 50 years since that commitment, efforts to improve access have been led by the federal and provincial governments, non-profit organizations, and higher education institutions. At the same time, forced migration and displacement due to international conflicts and climate change have changed student demographics. Changes to the immigration system over the last decade have left increasing numbers of migrants with varying forms of precarious immigration status and limited options for permanent residence. Considering that immigration status frequently determines access to services and institutions, there continues to be insurmountable barriers to post-secondary education. Potential students with precarious status face prohibitive costs of international fees without access to financial aid or scholarships, student permit requirements and obligations to produce other documents, and fear of detention or deportation.
Spurred by the newly developed Sanctuary Scholars access pathway, this event series aims to imagine and conceptualize sanctuary at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guiding questions for sessions include:
- What is the relationship between practicing education as a right and sanctuary? What does sanctuary mean? What does sanctuary mean in the context of higher education? What do we, collectively as a community, envision sanctuary to be?
- What are the implications on safety and security, health and wellbeing, and community development?
- Which current institutional policies and practices are exclusionary if we are working towards sanctuary? What limitations is a post-secondary institution faced with in advancing sanctuary? What is the role of administrators, faculty, staff, and students in creating sanctuary on campus?
- Is sanctuary possible in a post-secondary institution?
Trainings:
Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Virtual Online
Registration Ends: Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Virtual Online
Registration Ends: Tuesday, November 12, 202
Launched in September 2023, the Sanctuary Scholars program offered at TMU via the Office of Social Innovation (OSI), provides an access pathway specifically for students who hold precarious immigration status. We have furthered our commitment to welcome all people to an environment of belonging, based on the university’s values of inclusivity, innovation and excellence. We work continuously to establish a safe and welcoming place for Sanctuary Scholars. We take the confidentiality and the unique needs of this group very seriously. Through this information session we will build awareness of the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by students in the Sanctuary Scholars program, strategies to support these students, as well as resources sharing. We invite faculty, contract lecturers, TAs/GAs and staff to come and learn more about Sanctuary Scholars.