In 2022, the number of forcibly displaced people surpassed 100 million for the first time. A large portion of the affected population is of school age: 40% of the displaced are under 18 and 13% are young people between 18 and 24. 

As part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted in 2015, the United Nations set a global goal to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Among other key targets under this goal, the UN calls on all countries to work for equitable access to affordable, quality education, including higher education, for all people, including the most vulnerable.

However, with 259 million children and youth still out of school and an annual funding gap of $148 billion, we are still far from achieving this goal. Of university-eligible refugees, only 6% have access to post-secondary education, compared to over 40% of the non-refugee population worldwide. In response, the UNHCR has formulated the 15by30 target: By 2030, 15% of refugee women and men should be pursuing higher education. DIME joins the network of partners working to achieve this goal because we believe that inclusive higher education is a must, not an option. It is clear that despite a greater focus on educational inclusion in recent years, much remains to be done in order to create an enriching environment inside and outside the university for all students and communities.