Research, Education and University Extension for Refugees: Communicating Cátedra Sérgio Vieira de Mello Endeavors at Campinas State University (UNICAMP)

Abstract

In the last decades, refugee figures worldwide and in Brazil have escalated to unprecedented standards, according to ACNUR data - the UN Refugee Agency. Each minute, 25 people are forcibly displaced as a result of conflict and persecution, amounting to nearly 70,8 million of refugees in the world, of which 11.231 are in Brazil. Amidst these circumstances, ACNUR's work in Brazil becomes increasingly relevant, allowing many endeavours to be created within the Agency. One of them is the Cátedra Sérgio Vieira de Mello, named after the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, deceased in 2003 as a result of terrorist attacks at the UN building in Baghdad . When associating with Brazilian Higher Education Institutes, the Cátedra provides its refugee population several integrative opportunities in three action lines designated by ACNUR: Research, Education and University Extension, guaranteeing access and permanence to Higher Education for people in refugee status. At UNICAMP and all universities linked to Cátedra, these services include facilitated admissions, degree certificates revaluation, health and psicosocial support, permanence scholarships, student housing, legal and career counseling and more. However, as of June 2018 out of all 374 admission offers provided specifically for refugees in 11 Cátedra universities, 86 were filled. This journalistic proposal herein argues that this less-than-one-third adherence rate reflects a need for enhanced communication of Cátedra's endeavors, so its knowledge is ensured. Moreover, it sustains that creating communication contents about Cátedra ventures published in Advanced Journalism Studies Lab (Labjor) and Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science (SBPC) magazines and in Cátedra communication venues implies creating discussion, information and public consciousness opportunities on the current refugee situation in Brazil and in Campinas. By communicating the debates, research and events promoted by Cátedra relating to refugee issues, as well as research projects in Humanities and Exact Sciences conducted by refugee students regularly enrolled at UNICAMP, this journalistic proposal intends to aid in the awareness about the refugee situation, in the reduction of ethnic and racial discrimination and in the dissemination of quality information on refugee subjects. Additionally, it recognizes the capability Science Journalism holds in shaping public opinion about Science and Research, a significant strategy to ensure these activities are properly analyzed, valued and encouraged.