Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a historical and current accounting of the state of refugee education in both the USA and Sweden. The growing diaspora of people around the globe implores educators to utilize effective models and strategies to meet the needs of refugees, as well as to advocate policies that aid in this utilization. Sweden has the highest rate of refugee acceptance in Europe, and the USA has the greatest number of immigrants in the west. Design/methodology/approach A review of the literature formatted to provide the reader with a historical accounting of the states of refugee education in both host nations, as well as the current states. Strategies and promising policies are introduced based on the literature and the author’s own research conducted in Sweden. Findings The paper addresses the history and present situations of two host nations, Sweden and the USA, who have differing education systems and histories of immigration. Concerns and two possible solutions offered were to increase opportunities for interaction between native and refugee populations; and bolster funding for the education of refugee school-age children and adolescents, and adults so that effective strategies and environment described in the literature can be put into place by effectively trained educators. These solutions could improve the cultural competence among all peoples in both nations, better enabling the two countries to provide economically and socially sustainable environments for all of their inhabitants. Research limitations/implications The examination of these two nations’ education of refugees may shed light on the worldwide challenges of refugees and mass immigration. Practical implications The solutions offered in the paper could improve the cultural competence among all peoples in both nations, better enabling the two countries to provide economically and socially sustainable environments for all of their inhabitants. Originality/value A comparison of US refugee education with that of a high-volume European host nation does not yet appear to have been published.
Highlights
In recent decades, economic globalization and political instability created great movement among people across the globe
The Swedes have been attempting to increase cultural competence on a national level beginning in their school systems for some time: the Swedish National Curriculum for Compulsory Education has explicitly stated the importance of learning to be tolerant for decades (Skolverket, 1994)
This paper provides a synopsis of the current state of refugee education in both Sweden and the USA, and an overview of the importance of integration of refugees into their host nations’ societies; and anchored by findings from a two-site case study conducted in Northern Sweden
Summary
Economic globalization and political instability created great movement among people across the globe. 65 million people were “forcibly” displaced, the highest number since Second World War, and four times more than in 2005 (United Nations Refugee Agency, 2016). Globalization has led some to “self-outsource” looking for better economic conditions. This is exemplified by workers from Greece, Romania and Spain to other parts of the European Union, as well as by Central American and Mexican workers legally and illegally crossing into the USA. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
