Welcoming and supporting refugees and migrants at UFPR: a comprehensive approach

In accordance with world policies defined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) has become a leading institution among Brazil’s HEI’s in defining and implementing a holistic program for welcoming and supporting migrants and refugees in its community. Since 2014, when Brazil experienced a major increase in the figures of refugee requests, UFPR has started implementing a holistic approach to allow refugees and migrants to have access to higher education. The university believes that providing institutional regulations for those populations to enter the university and pursue a degree means not only responding to urgent humanitarian demands, but also enriching the life of our university community. This presentation intends to describe all institutional steps and regulations that have been issued by UFPR so far, as well as to highlight the main aspects of our holistic program to welcoming and supporting refugees and migrants. In 2018, we succeeded in establishing a special entry examination for refugees and migrants, and now we have just started welcoming the first students that have entered UFPR through it, as well as those ones that have applied to become academically reintegrated students. Since 2014, more than 1500 students have been assisted by our program.