Educational pathways present a new avenue for refugee resettlement, offering opportunities for academic advancement and integration. This paper departs from the academic papers in this special issue to offer the perspective of Emanuel, a refugee from Eritrea, and his personal experience navigating the University Corridors for Refugees (UNICORE) project in Italy. UNICORE, facilitated by collaborative effects between Italian universities and refugee support organisations, provides select African students the chance to pursue a Master’s degree in Emanuel’s initial excitement after being accepted into the scheme was tempered by isolation after his studies coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic though he found support through university staff and the volunteer network of Caritas. However, challenges emerged regarding his refugee status and documentation, leading to a protracted process of seeking international protection, adversely impacting Emanuel’s mental health and academic focus. Despite his own resilience, Emanuel struggled with the limited opportunities after graduation, due to his unresolved legal status. In this piece, Emanuel’s experience underscores the transformative potential of educational pathways for refugee students, whilst highlighting the systematic gaps in long-term integration and employment prospects for refugee students. More collaborative efforts between universities, refugee support organisations and immigration departments are essential to address these barriers effectively and provide students with the opportunity to build successful lives in Italy. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024.

DOI: 10.1007/s12134-024-01198-x
ISSN: 14883473