Education pathways: Slovenia opens new opportunities for refugee students

8 January 2025, Ljubljana – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, commends Slovenia’s decision to launch new opportunities for refugee students, the Education Pathway to Slovenia. The first two Syrian refugee students arrived in Slovenia from Türkiye on January 3 to pursue higher education studies, after a thorough selection process.  

The Education Pathway to Slovenia initiative allows refugees who have completed a three-year Bachelor's degree to pursue a Master’s degree in the country. It goes beyond access to education by ensuring that selected students also receive comprehensive support, including assistance with social integration. This is made possible by the Slovenian authorities and the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI), in cooperation with UNHCR. 

“Our new students were awarded the Slovenian Ad futura scholarship and are now enrolled in the Master’s programme in Kinesiology of Human Performance, taught in English. They have already started online courses, and we are pleased to welcome them to Slovenia.”, said Prof. Dr. Rado Bohinc, President of the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI).  

At the heart of the initiative is the idea that refugees should be included in local communities from the very beginning. When refugees gain access to education, they can build their skills, which helps them become self-reliant. This in turn can help them contribute to the local economy and fuel the development of the communities hosting them.  

According to UNHCR’s latest education report, nearly half of all school-aged refugee children, approximately 7.2 million, are out of school. Tertiary education has the lowest enrolment rates. In 2023, 7% of refugees had access to higher education, while the global average among non-refugees stood at 42%. 

"Education is a powerful tool for unlocking potential, and this programme highlights the impact of strong partnerships in creating meaningful opportunities for refugees to succeed,” said Nicole Epting, UNHCR Representative for Central Europe. “Slovenia’s commitment to inclusive policies sets a commendable example and lays the foundation for broader initiatives in the future.”   

This initiative also marks an important step in implementing pledges made during the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) in 2023, during which the Government of Slovenia committed to providing additional safe and legal pathways for refugees, prioritizing vulnerable groups such as single mothers, single women, and unaccompanied minors.  

Background 

Complementary or legal pathways allow refugees to access opportunities like work, education, or family reunification in countries other than their country of asylum. These pathways provide legal entry and help refugees build stable lives and work toward permanent status. They are also a concrete act of international solidarity and responsibility sharing with countries hosting significant numbers of refugees, and in doing so, help meet the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees.  

UNHCR works with States, civil society, the private sector, academia, governmental agencies and refugees to identify, establish and expand legal pathways for admission to third countries. 

For more information, please contact:

In Budapest: Giulia Naboni, External Relations Officer - [email protected]    
In Ljubljana: Romana Zidar, Associate Protection Officer - [email protected]