Higher Education Inclusion for Refugees and International Protection Applicants in Ireland through the Universities of Sanctuary Movement—‘Today I have the keys, and I am wearing my good coat’

With reference to the Universities of Sanctuary Ireland (UoSI) movement, established in 2016, the chapter is contextualised within access complexities to HE for forced migrants in Ireland, and exploration of education as both a right and a public good. In addition, stemming from a recent study, it offers insights into the HE experiences for Sanctuary scholarship recipients through their lived experiences. Higher education national policy and strategy, as it pertains to race and race equality (Higher Education Authority [HEA], 2022) is discussed, coupled with issues concerning legal status, and lack of appropriate housing and welfare rights for forced migrants, highlighting significant barriers in terms of access. The chapter discusses how the UoSI movement, concerned by legal, systemic, financial, cultural and structural barriers, challenges the status quo through its three core principles: learning what it means to seek sanctuary; taking positive action; and sharing best sanctuary-related practice, in so doing, providing a capability-enhanced environment for relevant stakeholders, including forced migrants, academic and professional service staff and students in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ireland.