Muslim Immigrant Students in European Higher Educational Institutions

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of higher education on the integration of Muslim students from migrant background into French, German and Armenian societies. In 1999 many European states signed the Bologna Declaration (also Bologna Process), the goal of which was unification of European higher Education under one umbrella. In line with many aims stated in Bologna Declaration, one of the eye-catching characteristics was the policy’s flexibility, which would allow students enrolled in higher education institutions all over Europe to voice and promote their social, educational, cultural needs and take part in decision-making processes. To be able to understand whether the Bologna Process plays a role of integrator for Muslim immigrant students as well, the research attempts to reveal how Muslim immigrant students perceive and describe their experiences with European higher education; how they describe their integration into European institutional environment and consequently into European society. For this purpose case study approach has been applied. Individual interviews with student-participants have been conducted.

Keywords

• Muslim immigrant students
• Europe
• Bologna Process
• higher education policy
• integration