Ireland’s University of Limerick will be granting scholarships to 17 asylum seekers in keeping with its “University of Sanctuary designation.”
According to RTE, the scholarships will cover all the refugees’ “fees and travel costs, college subsistence, stationary [sic], and IT costs.”
After the “pre-degree course” is finished, those on the sanctuary scholarship will then be eligible for the same education grants available to all Irish students. Even those who struggle will be eligible for further scholarships to assist them in completing their degrees.
Dr. Mairead Moriarty, Chair of the University of Limerick’s Sanctuary steering committee, said “The current refugee crisis tests the inner strength of our educational culture, and at UL we believe that a University education should be a possibility for all.”
From the story:
[The scholarship] is one of the initiatives being undertaken by the University of Limerick to promote access and to integrate those from a refugee and asylum background into third level education.
“We have been committed to providing access to our University for people from all backgrounds and we are delighted to extend this to people currently living in Direct provision.” [Moriarty] added.
UL President Dr Des Fitzgerald said the sanctuary designation was a huge honour for UL and they will use it to be a regional leader in promoting a culture of welcome, and to provide a space for the celebration of the richness and diversity a multilingual and multicultural group brings to its community, both culturally and economically.
The designation awarded to the University is also a step toward Limerick being designated a City of Sanctuary, already awarded to a number of cities in the UK which are committed to building a culture of hospitality and welcome , especially for refugees seeking sanctuary from war and persecution.
MORE: Scholarships for illegals would be funded by higher student fees at Catholic university
MORE: Undocumented student sues Wells Fargo for denying her student loan
Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter
IMAGE: Shutterstock
Please join the conversation about our stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, MeWe, Rumble, Gab, Minds and Gettr.