Belonging and Integrating Migrants and Refugees within Higher Education System. A Case of Cavendish University Uganda.

This paper explores the complex issue of integration and belonging of Migrants and Refugees in Higher Education. The aim is to discover more about the challenges and opportunities of integration and belonging of Migrants and Refugees pursuing Higher Education in Cavendish, a Ugandan University. Through a mainly qualitative approach, the paper suggests that knowledge of English as a dominant language used at the University, the self-belief of an individual, individual and effort to adapt into a new society’s demands are all important factors in the success of Migrants and Refugees in gaining a sense of belonging within Cavendish University. The research findings suggest that differences in terms of gender, class and age can influence Migrants and Refugees in their sense of belonging at Cavendish University, as well as their academic performance. Still students’ prejudice against each other has also been an important factor in undermining effective social interaction as well as their sense of belong. In the conclusion, the paper argues that there is good reason to believe that whatever the efforts made by individual Refugees and Migrants, integration and belonging within the University are more likely when academic institution and the broader society also take some share of responsibility for making integration work.