With the launch of our graduate program, BHER has seen the emergence of refugee and local scholars in Dadaab who are engaging critically with, and writing about, the field of education and refugee/forced migration studies.

The vast majority of research on refugee and migration issues is published by academics and practitioners from the Global North, yet 85 percent of displaced persons reside in the Global South. There is significant and concerning underrepresentation of refugee voices in the body of work that pertains to them.

Over recent years, BHER graduate students and alumni have been actively mobilizing their knowledge and expertise through publications and presentations, stepping up to fill the gap of refugee voice in research. As a project, our intent is to develop better reciprocity in research, particularly through opportunities for collaboration and training in research/writing skills for graduate students and researchers in Dadaab. For anyone interested in doing research with BHER, we encourage you to review the reciprocal research engagement document before connecting with us.

  • Jama Ahmed Mohamed, Hawa Sabriye. & Esther Munene. (February 16, 2022). Together for peace in Somalia: Film screening and rebuilding Somalia panel. Reciprocal Learning Beyond Crisis, Online via ZOOM / York University.
  • Ochan Robert Leomoi, Chakkrid Chansang, Isabella Kirwan, Janemary Ruhudwa, & Foni Tuni. (December 9, 2021). New approaches to the 1951 Refugee Convention. Doing Refugee History – Institute of Historical Research. University of Glasgow.
  • Steve Alsop, Silas Asaka, Roxanne Cohen, & Deko Gaiye. (December 1, 2021). Science education in climate crisis. Reciprocal Learning Beyond Crisis, Online via ZOOM / York University.
  • Alice M. Nah, Maha Shuayb, & Mark Okello Oyat. (November 19, 2021). Building research relationships and setting the agenda. Webinar Series: Ethics in Forced Migration Research, Online via ZOOM / Carleton University.
  • HaEun Kim. (November 2021). Borderless Higher Education for Refugees – Lessons learned from 10 years in operation. International Education Week – Internationalization & Refugee Education, Sheridan College, Toronto.
  • Said Abukar, Jackline Irankunda, Mark Okello, Martin Junge, Gillian Triggs, & Françoise Mianda. (June 29, 2021). I am hope. Poems of Dignity and Hope by Refugees in Kenya: Online Launch, Online via ZOOM.
  • Gul Inanc, Tania Lima, Okello Oyat, & Chrystina Russell. (April 20, 2021). Higher education in conflict and crisis zones: Models of innovation and impact. Times Higher Education 2021 Innovation & Impact Summit, Online via ZOOM / University of Auckland, Penn State. 
  • Sharareh Kashi, Rachel Silver, Alyssa Morley, Priscilla Ndegwa, Dahabo Ibrahim, Joseph Mutua, & Hanan Duri. (February 10, 2021). COVID-19 and girl’s education in Kenya and beyond. Reciprocal Learning in Times of Crisis, Online via ZOOM / York University.
  • Grace Nshimiyukiza & Chloe Brushwood-Rose. (December 2, 2020). The invisible city. Reciprocal Learning in Times of Crisis, Online via ZOOM / York University.
  • Dakane Ahmed Bare, George Omondi, Norah Kariba, Esther Munene, Abdikadir Abikar, & Rachel Silver. (November 4, 2020). Navigating COVID-19 and education in the Dadaab refugee camps. Reciprocal Learning in Times of Crisis, Online via ZOOM / York University.
  • Dennis Sinyolo, Robert Ochan Leomoi, Charlotte Bergin, & Dean Brooks. (December 16, 2019). Improving teacher support in crisis contexts. UNHCR Global Refugee Forum, Geneva.
  • Miller, L. & Nicol, Cynthia. (2018). Teacher education in refuge environments: A multi-institutional collaborative approach to teacher education in Dadaab Refugee Camps, Kenya. Presentation at the World Federation of Associations of Teacher Education, Biennial Conference, Melbourne Australia.
  • Giles, Wenona & Aida Orgocka. Presentation at Canadian Committee for Refugees Fall Consultation. Higher Education for refugees as a complementary pathway to durable solutions.December 2nd, 2017. Niagara Falls, Ontario.
  • Giles, Wenona & Aida Orgocka. Presentation to the Centre for Refugee Summer School. “Knowledge Networked to Knowledge Engaged: The Borderless Higher Education for Refugees (BHER) Project”. May 20th, 2017.
  • Giles, Wenona. Keynote speaker for UNHCR, University of Toronto Law School, and International Human Rights Program. Presentation on the Borderless Higher Education for Refugees Project. UNHCR’s Film Screening for the 16 Days of Activism. Jackman Building, University of Toronto. November 28, 2016.
  • Giles, Wenona. Presentation on the BHER Project at Panel: Refugee Education: Creating Opportunities in the Midst of Disruption. Debates Room, Hart House. April 4, 2016
  • Giles, Wenona and Don Dippo. Presentation: Higher Education as a Challenge to Precarity in Refugee Camps: the Borderless Higher Education Project in the Dadaab Camps, Kenya on Panel: Access to Education for Displaced Populations in the Global South. Centre for Refugee Studies Seminar Series, Mar 3, 2013.
  • Okello Oyat, Ochan Leomoi, & Arte Dagane. (December 2, 2021). Shifting power in humanitarian education aid: Emerging scholars. Collective on Education, Decoloniality, and Emergencies.
  • Abis Getachew, Andhira Kara, Mary Gitahi, Mark Okello, & Uwezo Ramazani. (November 3, 2021). A refugee-led study on refugee-led organizations. Oxford Refugee Studies Centre, Online via ZOOM / Oxford University. 
  • Abdikadir Abikar, Arte Dagane, Okello Oyat, Robert Ochan Leomoi, & HaEun Kim. (July 30, 2021). Emerging refugee scholars in encampment. IASFM18 Conference, Online via ZOOM / University of Accra.
  • Abdi Bashir, Abulogn Okello, Hanan Duri, & Mohamed Duale. (July 28, 2021). Action research and experiential learning in the Dadaab refugee camps, Part II – Professional experiential learning in Dadaab, Kenya. IASFM18 Conference, Online via ZOOM / University of Accra.
  • Don Dippo, HaEun Kim, Dahabo Ibrahim, Kassahun Hiticha, & Grace Nshimiyumukiza. (July 27, 2021). Action research and experiential learning in the Dadaab refugee camps, Part I – Action Research Symposium in Dadaab, Kenya. IASFM18 Conference, Online via ZOOM / University of Accra.
  • Mohamed Duale, Ahmed Ali, Abdullahi Yussuf Aden, Arte Dagane, Fatuma Jama, Ochan Leomoi, & Okello Oyat. (May 16, 2019). Refugee scholars in Dadaab: Graduate study and research in displacement. CARFMS 2019 Special Session, York University.
  • Don Dippo, Abdi Bishar, Kassahun Hiticha, Abulogn Okello, Abdi Aden, Deka Shahow, & Dahabo Ibrahim. (May 15, 2019). Action research in the Dadaab refugee camps, Kenya. CARFMS 2019 Special Session, York University. 
  • Ahmed Ali, Abdullahi Yussuf Aden, Arte Dagane, Fatuma Jama, Ochan Leomoi, & Okello Oyat. (April 12, 2019). Dadaab cohort presentations. YGSE Conference: Education in Action, Online VIA ZOOM / York University. 
  • Miller, Lorrie & Nicol, Cynthia. (2018). Teacher education in refugee environments: A multi-institutional collaborative approach to teacher education in Dadaab Refugee Camps, Kenya. Presentation at the World Federation of Associations of Teacher Education, Biennial Conference, Melbourne Australia.
  • Dahya, Negin. (2018). A socio-technical approach to refugee education: Connected networks and ICT in Kenyan Refugee Camps. University of Washington.
  • Presentations at the symposium on Teaching and Learning in Complex Contexts: Imagining a Significant Future in Refugee Education. Organized by Dr. Cynthia Nicol, Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, March 18-20, 2018.
    – Abdi, Ali. (2018). Context, capacity, and transformation. (UBC).
    – Ali, Abdikhafar & Olow,Mohamud. (2018). Education in Dadaab: Special focus on girls’ education. (UBC).
    – Chemeli, Janeth. (2018). Teachers’ utilization of formative assessment strategies (Moi University).
    – Hussein, Ahmed & Muse, Abdihadin. (2018). Dadaab teacher education: The impact (UBC).
    – Hussein, Ali. (2018). “Sorry for my Sadness”: Reflections of experiences in Dadaab Refugee Camps. (UBC).
    – Karangu, Philip & Ahmed, Ibrahim. (2018). Beyond odds: Success stories from Dadaab Camps. (UBC).
    – Khamasi, Wanjiku. (2018). Imagining a significant future in refugee education: A lesson from an incomplete story. (Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya).
    – Kiposi, Emmy. (2018). Training teachers in Dadaab: Reflections (Moi University).
    – Miller, Lorrie (2018). Rebuilding hope: Teachers as agents of change. (UBC).
    – Nashon, Samson. (2018). A North-South university collaboration on refugee education: Teacher education in Dadaab Refugee Camp complex. (UBC).
    – Njogu, Marangu. (2018). Reflections on Dadaab refugee education and its significance. (Windle Trust Kenya).
    – Yarow, Hassan & Mohamed, Suleiman. (2018). Far-reaching impacts of emergency education in Dadaab Refugee Camps. (UBC).
  • Sork, Thomas J. & Boškić, Natasha. (2017). Technology, terrorism and teacher education: Lessons from the delivery of higher education to Somali refugee teachers in Dadaab, Kenya. Proceedings of the 11th International Technology, Education and Development Conference (INTED2017) (pp. 64-68). March 6-8, 2017, Valencia, Spain, ISBN: 978-84-617-8491-2/doi: 10.21125/inted.2017
  • HaEun Kim, Hawa Sabriye. Examining Access to Higher Education in Dadaab, Kenya. Tunisian Association for
    English Language Studies (TAELS) – International Conference on Discourses on Migration & Mobility, Hammamet,
    Tunisia, December 2016.
  • Abdi, Farhia & Porthier, Melanie. (2016). On the ground and through the screen: Co-teaching a blended course for refugee teachers in Dadaab, Kenya. York University.
  • Dahya, Negan, Dryden-Peterson, Sarah & Spiro, Emma. (2016). Social media and social networks in refugee education: Tracing digital pathways to higher education. University of Washington; Harvard University.
  • Dippo, Don. (2016). What’s going on in the forum? Bridging the camp and the campus. York University.
  • Dryden-Peterson, Sarah & Dayha, Negin. (2016). Pathways to educational success among refugees: Connecting local and global resources in the Dadaab camps of Kenya. University of Washington; Harvard University.
  • Giles, Wenona. (2016). Organizer of two panels (8 papers, one sole-authored paper by Giles). Panel Titles: 1) Inside the Borderless Higher Education for Refugees (BHER) Practice; 2) The Borderless Higher Education for Refugees (BHER) Project in the World. Comparative and International Education Society Conference, Vancouver, March 2016.  
  • Nashon, Samson, Nicol, Cynthia & Meyer, Karen. (2016). Dialogue circles and math markets: Challenges and possibilities of teaching in Dadaab. University of British Columbia.
  • Orgocka, Aida. (2016). Evaluating development initiatives in humanitarian contexts: Prescribed frameworks as contested realities. York University.
  • Sork, Thomas J. (2016). Planning frameworks and their limitations in transnational collaborations: The case of the BHER project. University of British Columbia.
  • Giles, Wenona. (2015). “Whose insecurity? Impacts of the emergency excuse on access to higher education: Dadaab”. Innovations in Forced Migration (Studies).  Final Conference of the Refugee Research Network.  June 15-16, 2015, Glendon Campus, York University.
  • Giles, Wenona. (2012). “Higher education and its relationship to precarious lives and rights in refugee camps: The Borderless Higher Education in Refugee Camps (BHER) initiative”. Canada and Refugee Resettlement: A Conference.  June 20-22, 2012,          Vancouver.
  • Giles, Wenona. (2011). Higher education and its relationship to precarious lives and rights in refugee camps: The Borderless Higher Education in Refugee Camps (BHER) initiative. The International Association for the Study of Forced Migration (IASFM). Kampala Uganda. July 2011.
  • Giles, Wenona. (2011). Organizer and presenter SSHRC-Partnership Workshop. “The Provision of Higher Education for Long-Term Refugees in the Dadaab Camps, Kenya”. June 30- July 1, 2011. Kampala, Uganda