Global health academics help Scotland respond to refugee crisis
Global health academics from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (QMU) will use their latest research to help Scotland respond to the refugee crisis.
Experts from the University’s Institute for Global Health and Development will share research with MSPs, council officials, policy makers and service providers to help them formulate plans to support refugee integration in Scotland.
The event ‘Refugee Integration: Framing the Scottish Response’ will be held at the Scottish Parliament and will involve presentations from researchers and also representatives from organisations currently involved in the Scottish response to supporting Syrian refugees.
Professor Alastair Ager, Director of the Institute for Global Health and Development at QMU, has worked extensively in conflict areas to address the humanitarian and protection needs of refugees. His colleague from the Institute, Dr Alison Strang, has widely recognised expertise on refugee integration, has been involved in the resettlement of refugees in Glasgow and leads the implementation of ‘New Scots’ the Scottish national strategy for refugee integration. The team will highlight key areas of learning from their research in Scotland and the Middle-East.
Dr Strang, who is a member of the newly formed Scottish Government Refugee Taskforce, said: “Organisations are keen to gain as much knowledge as possible to help them formulate plans across areas of housing, healthcare, language, education and employment which will help refugees integrate successfully into Scottish communities. We are pleased to be able to share our research from both Scotland and abroad. This will help policy makers develop effective plans for building strong and diverse communities by receiving and integrating Syrian refugees.
The briefing session ‘Refugee Integration: Framing the Scottish Response’ will be held at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 17th November. The event, which is sponsored by John Mason, SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Shettleston, will also include presentations from partner academics and a local authority involved in the programme receiving refugees.
