Engaged Member Roundtable Discussion: Universities as sites of sanctuary and solidarity

Dr. Phil Enns, Dean of Academic Affairs at Parami University, participated in the Talloires Engaged Member Roundtable discussion last week, alongside representatives from 26 institutions across 20 countries. The discussion focused on how universities can serve as sanctuaries for displaced people—both symbolically and practically—while fulfilling their research, educational, and civic missions.

Dr. Enns shared how Parami University, a fully online institution, serves as a sanctuary for students in Myanmar, where the ongoing civil war makes in-country education nearly impossible. He explained that many young people are internally or externally displaced and face deep isolation due to safety risks and travel restrictions.

In this context, online classrooms provide a vital sense of community, connecting students who share similar struggles and aspirations. These virtual spaces not only offer academic and skill development opportunities but also help students regain purpose and hope amid conflict.

“Being in the classroom, working on civic engagement projects, and finding ways of helping their local communities provides some with a bit of hope in a very dark place. And so I think these are the ways that we can provide sanctuary to at least the students who are in these very dire situations,” Dr. Phil Enns highlighted.

Universities worldwide are increasingly taking active roles in supporting refugees and advancing humanitarian action through education, research, and community engagement. 

Representatives from universities in Lebanon, South Africa, the UK, Uganda, Turkey, and Afghanistan discussed how higher education addresses displacement and refugee inclusion. Examples include providing not only education but also healthcare support to refugee students at the American University of Beirut, providing housing and support to refugees through the Every Campus a Refuge initiative in South Africa, and establishing the Universities of Sanctuary movement in the UK. Makerere University offers scholarships under Uganda’s open refugee policy, Sabancı University promotes sanctuary ethics, and the American University of Afghanistan uses online learning to support students, particularly women, under restrictive conditions. The discussion highlighted universities’ vital role in bridging academia and community, shaping policy, and advancing social justice and inclusion globally.

The Engaged Member Roundtable discussions will continue regularly in January, April, and July, focusing on themes proposed by members. The series aims to foster global collaboration and dialogue among universities advancing community engagement and social responsibility.

In October 2024, Parami University became a member of the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities, a coalition of 43 universities from 25 countries committed to social responsibility, community engagement, international collaboration, and addressing global and local challenges. Engaged members of the Talloires Network include prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, Bard College, the University of Cape Town, Brown University, Newcastle University, and Western Sydney University.