When the refugee crisis exploded into popular consciousness, the University of Sheffield's unashamed internationalism and civic identity immediately galvanised our students and staff to join together and drive our response.
The University of Sheffield already had a strong history of helping those seeking refuge. Our Nobel prize winner Sir Hans Krebs came to Sheffield after being expelled from his university post by the Nuremberg laws in 1933. And in 2011, we committed to becoming the first University of Sanctuary in the UK - mirroring Sheffield's decision to be the UK's first City of Sanctuary.
We began a community and public relations campaign to demonstrate our support for refugees, developed in partnership with Sheffield-based organisations. This project focuses around three key areas:
How the University can support locally-based refugees and asylum seekers to access education, training, work and space
How we can use our student, staff academic experience to contribute to the public discourse on refugees and migration
What more the University can do to support at-risk students and academics through scholarships and work placements
From the Judges' Report
The judges were moved by this topical and relevant campaign around the refugee crisis..The program included a strong community and public relations campaign to demonstrate support for refugees. Judges liked the community aspect of the campaign that went beyond the walls of the university.
