Symposium on Education Pathways: Establishing safe pathways to the Netherlands for refugee students

Currently, the only safe way for refugees to reach the Netherlands is through the resettlement programme mandated by the UNHCR. However, of the 2.9 million refugees worldwide in need of resettlement, the Netherlands accepts 500 individuals per year. This pathway is intended for refugees whose lives are deemed to be the most vulnerable.

An alternative, complementary pathway could be an education pathway. This is a  safe and legal route for refugees which opens up the possibility for to access education and realize their academic and professional ambitions. Many refugees face significant barriers in furthering their academic education and often experience prolonged gaps in their professional development.

Drawing inspiration from international initiatives

As part of COMET, Justice & Peace advocates for the establishment of more legal and safe pathways to the Netherlands for refugees particularly through education. International examples from  Canada, Italy, France, and recently Belgium have shown how educational institutions, together with civil society, have the potential to play a key role in expanding legal migration channels and supporting refugee students by studying at their institutions.

Education pathways complement international efforts to provide further access to education for refugees who often lack resources, legal opportunities or financial access to make use of existing international student mobility schemes. Establishing education pathways is therefore essential to ensure equitable access to learning opportunities and promote refugees’ right to education.

“Encouraging refugee scholarships is not just about providing assistance—it’s about unlocking potential, fostering integration, and building a brighter future for all. By investing in education pathways for refugees, we can create resilient communities that benefit from diversity, innovation, and shared success.” Stephen, KU Leuven student through education pathway.

Laying the groundwork for education pathways in the Netherlands

As the first organization to explore education pathways in the Netherlands, Justice & Peace hosted the Symposium on Education Pathways on 7-8 November in The Hague.

The two-day event brought together distinguished speakers, including migration experts from IOM the Netherlands, UNHCR Belgium, and MPI Europe, representatives from organizations such as ICMC Europe and Stichting UAF as well as students with firsthand experience in education pathways abroad. Through panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions, participants explored knowledge gaps, leveraged insights, and developed actionable strategies tailored to the Dutch context.

A collective effort

While Justice & Peace is the first initiator of education pathways in the Netherlands, establishing education pathways calls for both national and international collaboration. International examples demonstrate that multiple actors at diverse levels, such as local governments, educational institutions, and local communities are all crucial for successful implementation and that there is no single blueprint to achieve this. Instead, the design and implementation of education pathways must be adapted to the specific national context, taking into account already existing legal frameworks, established support structures, and solidarity networks.

Justice & Peace, therefore, urges professionals in higher education, civil society, migration, government institutions, or policy who are interested in supporting our efforts to expand safe and legal migration pathways and increase refugee students’ access to higher education, to reach out.