UCC’s University of Sanctuary mission is to ensure that UCC is a place where people learn about what it means to seek sanctuary, develop a sustainable culture of welcome for asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants, and share good practice with other institutions.

The University College Cork Strategic Plan 2023 - 2028, under Goal Three: Global Engagement, seeks to: Promote greater diversity among our staff and students in line with our values, including through UCC's role as a University of Sanctuary (Goal 3.4). University College Cork's commitment to Sanctuary is further set out in the Global Engagement Plan with the aim to: Strengthen UCC's position as a University of Sanctuary, reflecting our responsibilities as a global citizen at home and abroad (Priority Action 4, Global Citizenship).

Fulfilling our mission

UCC is proud to fulfil its sanctuary mission through a range of activities including:

• Sanctuary Scholarships and Fellowships
• Refugee Week
• A series of Public Talks and Engagements
• Research Excellence

UCC is a member of the Scholars at Risk Network and also participates in University of Sanctuary Ireland and the IUA Sanctuary Network. University College Cork was designated a University of Sanctuary in 2018.

UCC staff and students have a strong history of coming together to stand with those whose lives have been devastated by the effects of war and invasion. For example, in 2022, the UCC community came together to stand in solidarity with Ukraine and developed the Ukraine Sanctuary Fellowship Scheme for Ukrainian higher education staff displaced and impacted by the war.

University of Sanctuary activities are advanced and coordinated with the support of a Sanctuary Subcommittee which reports to the ULT Global Engagement Committee.

General Enquiries

For general enquires relating to UCC as a University of Sanctuary please email vpglobal@ucc.ie