Roma access to higher education according to the official texts of the Council of Europe

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to investigate the references to the ways the Roma access Higher Education, as presented through the official texts of the Council of Europe (1959-2020), on the official website of the Organization: the granting of scholarships, the partial tuition fee waivers, the state subsidies, the special credit points awarded, the increase of the rate of access of the Roma, especially of Roma girls, to Higher Education, the establishment of departments for university preparation, the creation of vocational training and education programs, the staffing of universities with special advisers to assist with admission and to monitor Roma access to university, the existence of apprenticeships, the offer of programs, study guides and subject areas in universities in minority languages, as well as the counselling support of Roma young people and Roma parents regarding the value of education, constitute some of the incentivizing policies of the Council of Europe to its member states. At the outset, a brief presentation of the Roma and the educational problems they face in many European countries is provided. Then, reference is made to the vision and objectives of the Council of Europe as regards higher education. The article concludes with an attempt to identify the ways in which the Roma access higher education, through the official texts of the Organization.