We are pleased to be reaccredited as a University of Sanctuary

Following our application to renew our University of Sanctuary status, we are pleased to announce we have received reaccreditation for another three years. Being a University of Sanctuary is important to us, aligning with our commitment to continue to make the University a welcoming, safe, and inclusive place for refugees and asylum seekers across our campuses and wider communities.

The City of Sanctuary organisation confirmed that we continue to meet the University of Sanctuary Award Principles recognising our positive initiatives and said we have “continued to meet the University of Sanctuary status expectations and beyond.”

We continue to demonstrate our strong commitment to sanctuary seekers through our scholarships, academic and pastoral support, student engagement, and collaborative partnerships. Moreover, we provide visible endorsement of the City of Sanctuary vision by maintaining public engagement through our website, events, and institutional pledges as well as sharing information through external communication channels and the valuable work of our Centre for Trauma, Asylum and Refugees (CTAR).

Our leadership in the Global Academic Interdisciplinary Network (GAIN) was mentioned as further highlighting our commitment to influencing policy and research on sanctuary, and we were commended for the inclusion of sanctuary principles within our governance structures and long-term strategic plans.

We will continue to provide tangible support through our scholarships, bursaries, and dedicated student services provided via our Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service, as well as having a dedicated Sanctuary Network (chaired by our Director of Inclusion, Elaine Brown) who meet termly to advance our sanctuary activities and commitments.

We remain committed to working with external partners including the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA), Refugee, Asylum Seeker and Migrant Action (RAMA), Colchester City Council and other Eastern Arc universities and local organisations, providing meaningful engagement to make a difference where we can, including providing ongoing funding for Sanctuary Scholarships.

We know we can do more and have not only reflected on what we have done well but on areas for growth such as working with the Students’ Union to re-establish student-led initiatives such as Student Action for Refugees (STAR) and seeking feedback from sanctuary students on their experiences to know what we do well and where we can improve.