In a mark of its commitment to supporting the plight of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants to Europe, Kent Law School has agreed to waive the tuition fees for one eligible student for the duration of either their undergraduate or postgraduate studies.
Supported by the University of Kent, the fee waiver comes via an Article 26 Award 2016 for undergraduate students, or via funding from the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) for postgraduate students.
The initiative has been led within the Law School by Senior Lecturer Dr Thanos Zartaloudis and is in direct response to the global refugee crisis.
In a joint statement issued by academics, the School cites its long-held critical, interdisciplinary and socially minded mission in legal education, scholarship and community engagement, and affirms that it stands in solidarity with all those affected: ‘For a long time there has been a global refugee crisis. This crisis has intensified in recent years and since 2015, in particular, we experienced the largest movement of people that has been encountered since 1945.
‘More than 3,000 related deaths have taken place, and while the tragic incidents continue on a daily basis in the Mediterranean, and South Eastern Europe in particular, the EU is struggling to respond and is in the midst of political controversy, while islamophobia, xenophobia and racism are on the increase which often target asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. We stand in solidarity with these brave, proud and destitute people.’
The statement goes on to encourage Law School staff and students to engage with local support groups that include:
- Kent Refugee Action Network
- The Welcome Unaccompanied Young Asylum Seekers to Ladesfield (Facebook Group)
- Samphire Project: Dover detention centre visitors group
- Migrant Help UK
- Folkestone Migrant Support Group
- Canterbury City Council
- Kent Refugee Help
- Student Action for Refugees
A full copy of the statement is available to read: KLS_Statement_Refugees_April 2016