Organized by Nexus 3.0 (lead convener) with the support of the University of Lisbon
Why this conference, why now?
Higher education has expanded access for refugees, displaced learners, and students affected by conflict, guided by the global 15by30 goal: ensuring 15% of refugee youth access higher education by 2030. As of 2026, global refugee enrolment is approximately 7%, while the average global gross enrolment ratio is around 44%. Experience shows that access alone is not enough. Integration—understood as belonging—is essential for student success, retention, and the sustainability needed to scale enrolment toward 15by30. The transition from integration to belonging remains a design challenge.
Conference purpose
This one-day, action-oriented conference convenes higher education institutions, learners, policymakers, funders, employers, and civil society to move from emergency responses toward sustainable ecosystems of belonging, participation, and opportunity. The focus is on practical proposals that can be tested within 12 months.
What makes this conference different?
• No long panels
• Lived experience as expertise
• Cross-sector collaboration by design
• Projects, not conclusions
• Commitments, not declarations
Programme at a glance
Morning framing sessions and lightning talks grounded in lived and institutional experience are followed by facilitated cross-sector design labs. Participants co-create 3–5 pilot proposals, present them in a plenary session, and secure initial commitments from institutions, funders, and partners.
Design labs focus on:
Inclusive admissions & recognition
• Belonging as a core function
• Wellbeing across the student journey
• From learning to employment
• Financing pathways & transitions
• Designing the path to 15by30
Expected outputs
• 3–5 co-designed pilot proposals
• Initial cross-sector commitments
• A post-conference Action Brief
• Strengthened partnerships across the higher education ecosystem
Who should attend?
University leaders and staff, learners from crisis contexts, policymakers, NGOs and refugee-led organisations, employers, private sector partners, and foundations.
This Conference is part of the Share HERCoN project, which is dedicated to creating sustainable pathways for refugees to access higher education (HE) across the European Union. For further information, please see https://nexus3.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/HERCoN-Erasmus-project-Summary.pdf
