The role of communities in supporting refugee youth transition into higher education

Abstract

There is a hidden but crucially important role that communities and out-of-university organisations play in enabling the successful transition of refugee background youth into higher education. This chapter maps the often invisible learning spaces and networks afforded by community organisations and govern- ment and non-government refugee youth providers in this process. It argues that refugee background students' successful transition and participation in new edu- cational contexts needs to be reconceptualised by universities as a partnership process that builds on community strengths. Through partnerships, the chapter maintains that universities can tap into pre-existing community support pro- grammes in order to enhance good transition pathways for the students.