Why Higher Education Matters — Especially in Times of Crisis
When conflict erupts or disaster strikes, the first images that come to mind are of shattered homes, families on the move, and schools left in ruins. Yet amid the chaos, one vital dimension of recovery often fades into the background: access to higher education.
For millions of young people living through wars, persecution, or exile, university education is more than a privilege — it is a lifeline. It represents hope, continuity, and the possibility to rebuild lives and communities with dignity. Today, as we mark World Access to Higher Education Day, we are reminded that learning cannot be postponed until peace returns. It must be protected and expanded — even in the most fragile of contexts.
The invisible front line of opportunity
Across the world, refugees and displaced youth face impossible odds: interrupted schooling, lost documentation, language barriers, and financial hardship. Only 7% of refugees currently have access to higher education, compared to the global average of 40%. The goal set by UNHCR — 15% by 2030 — is both ambitious and urgent.
This gap is not just about degrees; it is about justice, inclusion, and rebuilding societies. Every student who continues their studies despite conflict becomes a bridge between survival and recovery, between despair and innovation.
Portugal’s leadership and the power of solidarity
Thanks to the visionary action of the late President Jorge Sampaio, Portugal has been a pioneer in welcoming students from countries affected by humanitarian crises — from Syria and Ukraine to Venezuela and Afghanistan. This leadership is a testament to the solidarity of our academic community, which has opened its doors and hearts to students whose educational dreams were nearly extinguished.
At Nexus 3.0, we are proud to contribute to this effort through programs that create academic pathways for students affected by war and displacement. Our initiatives — from scholarships for Ukrainian and Afghan students to the development of the HELP Fund and the Healing Hub — are built on a conviction that education is not a luxury; it is a human right, and the most powerful tool for peace.
Education as an act of resistance
In places like Afghanistan, where women and girls have been erased from classrooms, the act of studying has become one of courage and defiance. Every Afghan student who manages to enter a university is not only pursuing knowledge — she is defending the very principle of equality.
Higher education in such contexts is more than a system of lectures and exams; it is a space of resistance, freedom, and future-making.
A shared responsibility
Access to higher education in crisis settings demands the engagement of everyone — governments, universities, philanthropy, and citizens alike. It calls for imagination: new pathways, scholarships, digital bridges, and collective funding mechanisms like our HELP Fund, which invites every student to contribute €1 a year to support peers in need.
Education in emergencies is not charity — it is solidarity in action. It builds the foundations for peace, innovation, and global citizenship.
On this World Access to Higher Education Day, let us reaffirm a simple truth:
When we open the doors of universities to those whose lives have been shattered by war, we open the doors to a more humane, inclusive, and peaceful world
