Events & News
Exhibition
“Integration through Education: Access to Higher Education”
Refugee students and researchers share their stories...
At Nacht der Forschung 2025, three former participants of Compass UniBE and one participant of the Scholars at Risk (SAR) program were portrayed. Discover the moving stories of Yuliia Semydko-Momot, Esra Küçük, Eqbal Nabizada, and Thu Zar Nwe. Susan Thieme, professor of geography with a focus on critical sustainability research, comments in an interview that can be read on the last of the five posters below, on issues related to education and migration.
“My motivation is closely linked to my personal life story.”
Yuliia Semydko-Momot is from Ukraine and was a Compass UniBE participant in 2024-2025.
“As a refugee, you are under constant observation and criticism.”
Eqbal Nabizada is from Afghanistan and was a Compass UniBE participant in 2023-2024.
“My former life, which I had built up with great effort, collapsed for political reasons. Now I am experiencing everything from scratch.”
Esra Küçük is from Türkiye and was a Compass UniBE participant in 2023-2024.
"I was welcomed into a warm environment, which made med feel like I was in the right place to do my research."
Thu Zar Nwe is from Myanmar and is currently a Scholars at Risk (SAR) participant.
“It is often forgotten that many refugees have academic qualifications, university experience, and a wide range of skills.”
Susan Thieme is a professor of geography with a focus on critical sustainability research.
Article about Compass UniBE in uniFOKUS
Two former Compass UniBE participants were portrayed in uniFOKUS. You can find more information about the students Eqbal Nabizada and Diana Pashchenko in the articles below.
‘Learning new things motivates me’
Eqbal Nabizada is from Afghanistan and is a care professional. He would now like to study at the University of Bern.
‘I want to integrate and work as a teacher’
Diana Pashchenko began studying marketing in Ukraine. She is now preparing to study English at the University of Bern and would like to become a teacher.
Unique study preparation for refugees
For a long time, it was difficult for refugees to be admitted to a university degree programme in Switzerland. However, the war in Ukraine has led to a rethink - and to the Compass UniBE program.
Past events
- September 6, 2025, Nacht der Forschung 2025. Exhibition: “Integration through education: Access to higher education”
- February 13, 2025, Uni4Refugees, Closing Event
- January 8, 2025 Information event for interested participants
- June 26, 2024 Closing ceremony Compass UniBE 2023/24
- December 6, 2023 Information event for interested participants
- October 12, 2023, Kick-off event Compass UniBE
- February 22, 2023, Information event at the Career Counselling and Information Center (BIZ) Bern, Access to the University of Bern for refugee students.