Global education leaders call for "inclusion of higher education in crisis settings" at UNESCO event

Global education leaders called for "inclusion of higher education in crisis settings" during a side event of the UNESCO Group of Friends for Education in Emergencies on 31/10/2025.

The global leaders convened on the sidelines of the 43^rd session of UNESCO's General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan to "spotlight the vital role of higher education as a critical, yet often overlooked, pillar of humanitarian and recovery efforts during crises and as an essential component of sustainable development and peacebuilding".

Kari Nessa Nordtun, Minister of Education of Norway, reaffirmed her country’s commitment to ensuring that displaced learners can access quality and inclusive higher education opportunities.

"More than 120 million people are currently displaced due to conflict, persecution, or natural hazards", reported Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education. Among them, only 9% have access to higher education (compared to 40% of the global population on average), as responses in emergencies usually focus on primary education.

"UNESCO is pursuing the vision…