By: Communications
The incredible work of the University of East Anglia’s (UEA) Madi Dutton in supporting sanctuary-seeking students was recognised internationally through Duolingo’s We Rise Together Awards in Pittsburgh, USA on 24 May.
The We Rise Together Awards, which are now in their third year, recognise individuals whose work has an immense impact on education access, with nominations coming primarily from colleagues and associates who believe they exemplify hope, hard work, and a shared vision for a better tomorrow.
In 2022, Duolingo received more than 1,000 nominations across four award categories. Madi was nominated in the Student Advocacy category and was informed of her win by email, alongside an invitation to attend the award ceremony in the USA. As well as covering all travel expenses, Duolingo will also be making a donation to Madi’s charity of choice – The Bridge Plus+, a local organisation that provides information, advice and advocacy services for people from ethnic minorities and the migrant community.
Madi was unaware she had been nominated for the award by members of Norwich’s sanctuary community, which included three UEA Sanctuary Students, with support from Sophie North, Lecturer in Health Science and . One Sanctuary Scholar, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared her thoughts on the impact Madi has had on her since she arrived at UEA, she said:
“I remember the first time I met her. It was easy for me to approach her as she created the space to make me comfortable and share my problems and concerns with her so she could help me in the best possible way. From grocery shopping to opening a bank account, she was there to ensure I received enough support mentally and financially.
I think there is a need for a person like Madi to be there in higher education to assist sanctuary students who have been through so much, and sometimes it’s impossible to communicate their fears and pain. However, Madi is the one that creates the platform to make students feel calm and share their concerns with her to find the best solutions. She is an incredible and powerful woman"
The University of Sanctuary initiative grew out of the City of Sanctuary movement - a non-governmental coalition which promotes action to foster greater inclusion and integration in the UK, with a key focus on supporting refugees and asylum seekers. UEA is fully committed to helping reduce the barriers to participation in higher education faced by those seeking asylum in the UK, with one of the key mechanisms for this being through the awarding of scholarships. So far, 33 students have benefitted from one of several scholarship types, including the Sanctuary Scholarship, studying across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate subjects including Public Policy and Public Management, and Mathematics Education.
Madi believes that UEA’s dedication to fostering a welcoming environment through the University of Sancturary, and the commitment of her colleagues, has been key to achieving this success. She said:
“My role, which is focused on the sanctuary student’s journey through higher education from pre-admission to post qualification, is only possible because of the University of East Anglia's commitment to being a true place of sanctuary for those with a background of forced migration. I feel proud to be working at a university which is committed to understanding the needs of its sanctuary community and developing long-term holistic support structures.
“I am extremely honoured and humbled to be receiving this incredible award. I see this award as recognition of not just my role, but also Sophie North who leads the initiative with such passion, strength and huge drive and the work of the University of Sanctuary team,”
Emma McLeavey-Weeder, Lead Strategic Engagement Executive at Duolingo, said:
“The selection committee was very impressed with Madi's commitment to increasing opportunities for refugee and asylum-seeking students. It was clear that she has worked determinedly with sanctuary colleagues and scholars to explore what a welcoming culture of inclusivity and awareness can look like at a university. We were delighted to be able to welcome both Madi and her UEA colleague, Sophie to Pittsburgh to celebrate this achievement"
Despite being an individual award, Madi is keen to bring to light the impact of other colleagues that have helped to ensure the success of UEA’s University of Sanctuary initiative. She said:
“I have to mention some of the other colleagues key to the success of UEA’s University of Sanctuary initiative, including; Peter Courridge (UoS Finance Lead), Liz Ferguson (UoS Outreach Lead), Ulrike Theuerkauf (previous Academic Lead), Anna Robinson-Pant (previous Academic Lead), Theresa Frey, Zoe Jones, Helen Codling, Rachael Rose, Michala Carlisle, Jim Riches, Rachel Anstey- Sanders, Laura Camfield, Karen Blackney, Eylem Atakav, Mark Seacey, Catherine Butcher and Amanda Dorr, with additional input from many more colleagues and departments from across UEA.
The We Rise Together Awards were just one part of a larger experience named DETCon, held at Duolingo’s headquarters. Madi and Sophie’s work with the University of Sanctuary has developed excellent networks across the UK with other institutions, but attending the conference was an opportunity to expand these internationally. Madi said:
“The conference gave a really fascinating insight into the work taking place globally to support students from a forced migration background to access education. The University of East Anglia's work within the wider context of University of Sanctuary movement in the UK was of great interest to many, with attendees discussing how to create a similar model of work globally.”
Madi’s eligibility for the We Rise Together award came about thanks to the University of Sanctuary being a beneficiary of Duolingo’s English Test initiative, an innovative and accessible English proficiency assessment for international students which is available online, on-demand and utilises subject matter experts and AI to ensure it is both reliable and secure.
One of the main barriers many sanctuary seekers and refugees face in applying for a place on a scheme like UEA’s University of Sanctuary is in proving their English language capabilities, which could be a financial issue, an inability to safely access a testing centre, or both. The Duolingo English Test’s Access Program offers over 10,000 fee waivers annually to students from over 200 countries and territories, at absolutely no cost to the recipients.
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