Alumnus Olufikayo Abiola Akintola (Master's, International Education) was interviewed for the Diplomatic Watch article, "Refugee Students and the American Dream: O. Abiola Akintola Explains REAL's Findings. Akintola is a researcher and contributor of GW's REAL (Refugee Educational Advancement Laboratory).
In the Q&A article, Akintola spoke about the new book written by members of REAL, Accessing Quality Education: Global and Local Perspectives from Refugees. He highlights key discoveries and discusses why education remains a lifeline for those rebuilding from displacement. The article explores the following questions:
- What inspired the REAL (Refugee Educational Advancement Laboratory) team to create this book on refugee education?
- From the stories gathered, what challenges did refugee students face in returning to school in the DMV area?
- How did family and community support shape these students’ educational journeys?
- What lessons can local and global education systems learn from your findings?