Education and social inclusion of refugee children and youth in Iceland
Education and social inclusion of refugee children and youth in Iceland
Our goals
Inclusion of refugee children
We aim to critically explore the inclusion of Syrian and Iraqi refugee children and youth at pre-, compulsory and upper secondary school levels and the structures created for their learning and wellbeing in their social and educational settings.
Participation in education
By exploring the refugee children’s and youth’s access and participation in diverse educational contexts, as well as their social relations, the ESRCI project will provide important information for the Icelandic as well as international context on access and participation.
Long-term social outcomes
The main value of the ESRCI project for policy makers and practitioners in the Icelandic education system is providing insight into the educational experiences of refugee children and youth, challenges they face, their academic engagement and social wellbeing.
The ESRCI project
The ESRCI project investigates the educational experiences and social integration of Syrian and Iraqi refugee children and youth in Iceland. By engaging with students, families, educators, and community stakeholders across multiple municipalities, the study examines their access to education, participation in school and extracurricular activities, and the challenges they encounter. The findings aim to inform policies and practices that enhance inclusion, support academic development, and foster a sense of belonging for refugee children in Icelandic society.
The New Frontiers Conference 2025
The ESRCI team held a successful international conference, New Frontiers, on refugees and asylum seekers, with a special focus on the experiences of children and youth, on October 31–November 1, 2025.
At this conference, we explored the comparative dimensions of the refugee experience and examined how these issues have manifested in different settings around the world.
The keynote speakers were Laura Robson and Gry Paulgaard.
Funding & cooperation
The research project received an Excellence Grant (Icelandic: Öndvegisstyrkur) from Rannís in the year 2023.
