The number of academics seeking refuge from war and persecution has spiked by 400% in the past three years, according to new reports.
Since 2021, more than 2,000 academics have sought support from the Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara), a UK charity originally founded in the 1930s to support German academics targeted by the Nazis.
Cara reported the new numbers for the previous three academic years on Thursday, calling it the highest demand for its services since its founding.
There were 1,105 applications in the 2021/2022 academic year alone, followed by 533 in 366 in the two most recent years. Between 2018 and 2021, there were a combined 410 applications.
The charity said the spike is due to the escalation of conflicts worldwide—especially in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and Afghanistan. Senior leaders at the charity now warn that meeting the growing demand could be a struggle.
In 2023, Cara was already supporting 220 academic fellows from different countries in placements across the UK, and the charity expects the numbers to rise again in 2024. So far, the biggest number of applications came from Palestine, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Syria, plus more from dozens of other countries.
Cara helps to facilitate the escape of academics who are the target of authoritarian governments or extremist groups and works to connect them with professional placements, funding support and support for family members where possible.
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One Cara fellow from Afghanistan, who needs to remain anonymous to protect friends and family back home, said they were “hopeless” until they learned about Cara.
“I was the luckiest person that I found Cara, I was a lecturer at university and had a good reputation in our community and dozens of students and friends but suddenly Taliban took over my country and I lost all of them.
“Now I am not afraid of being judged for what I wear or for expressing my ideas, I am not leaving my home thinking that I might not make it back as an explosion might happen.
The charity funds these placements in part through various partnerships and cost-sharing efforts with universities. This year, it worked with the University of Edinburgh to launch Education Beyond Borders, a new programme to provide more support and working opportunities to academics fleeing conflict zones.
Another Cara fellow from Ukraine said that the first days of Russia’s invasion were the “most shocking days” they had ever experienced. They said that they appreciate the ability to not only live safely but to contribute to society again and continue their potentially-life saving work.
“Like many citizens of Kyiv, I spent my nights in a bomb shelter, and during the day I tried to get scarce food products, periodically hiding in the subway during air raids. Unsurprisingly, the Institute where I worked as a cancer researcher suspended all work.
“I am eternally grateful to all the people who have made it possible for me to be safe and have given me the opportunity to continue doing research, the work that I have always loved.”
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Refugee academics have a long history of being vital contributors in their fields. Since its founding in 1933, 16 people rescued by Cara have won Nobel Prizes and 18 have been awarded knighthoods.
Stephen Wordsworth, Executive Director of Cara, said that finding support and rescue for at-risk academics is an ongoing challenge as conflicts grow more intense and universities face more financial pressures.
“Conflicts, authoritarianism and intolerance around the world are making it increasingly hard for academics in many countries to continue their work, or even to exist.
"Repressive governments and extremist groups are united in their determination to brook no challenge, and academics, like journalists, are high on their list of those who must be controlled or silenced – one way or another. In some countries, such as Iran or Afghanistan, female academics are particularly vulnerable.
"We are now at a critical juncture. We have received more pleas for help in the last three years than at any time since we were founded in the 1930s – a stark reminder of history’s darkest moments.
"Crisis is being piled upon crisis, forcing ever greater numbers of university researchers and teachers to seek to flee to safety."
Cara has launched a series of awareness and fundraising events, which will be hosted at universities around the UK, including the University of Glasgow on September 23, The University of Edinburgh on September 25, and the University of St Andrews on October 30.
Cara's website provides more information on its fellowships and partnerships and on how to offer support.
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