De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is joining a global effort to help refugees and displaced students keep their university ambitions alive.
The university has entered a three-year partnership with Mosaik Education to explore new ways of opening up higher education to refugees and displaced communities affected by conflict and crisis.
As part of the partnership, DMU has joined Mosaik’s Global Response Platform (GRP), which brings UK universities together to respond collectively to crises affecting students and higher education overseas.
Andrea Casey, DMU’s UN Hub Manager, said: “Universities have an important role to play in creating opportunity and supporting communities affected by conflict and displacement.
“Through this partnership with Mosaik Education, and our role as the United Nations Academic Impact Global SDG Hub for SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, we will work alongside universities and partners across the world to explore practical ways of expanding access to higher education and helping displaced learners achieve their ambitions.”
Currently, only 9% of refugees globally access higher education.
The GRP enables universities to connect with humanitarian organisations, students and partners overseas, share expertise and resources, and work together to tackle barriers that can prevent displaced learners from continuing their education.
These can include access to funding, digital technology, language support, scholarships and suitable routes into higher education.
Through the partnership, DMU will work with Mosaik and other universities to explore practical ways of widening access and developing opportunities for students and communities affected by conflict and displacement.
Mosaik Education works to expand access to higher education for refugees and displaced learners by helping universities and students overcome barriers to continuing education.
The partnership also connects with DMU’s work as the United Nations Academic Impact global hub chair for Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Ben Webster, CEO of Mosaik Education, said "We're delighted to welcome DMU as a member of the Global Response Platform. DMU brings their track record as a UN SDG Hub, highly relevant subject specialism, and established international partnerships. Capabilities like these exist across UK higher education but sit separately. Coordinating these threads in support of students affected by crisis and conflict is what the GRP is for. We're looking forward to getting into the detail of planning activities with the DMU team alongside other members of the GRP”
DMU is the only UK university to have been appointed as chair of a United Nations Academic Impact Hub, leading a network of universities around the world working to advance SDG 11 and make communities more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Posted on Friday 18 September 2026