The Eastern Arc Conference 2025
The Eastern Arc region has been shaped by migration and movement, and for centuries has offered refuge for those seeking sanctuary.
Never has this been more important — but also more challenging — than now. With the rise in far-right populism, violent conflict and the bolstering of borders, our conference this year will look at the part university staff and students can and should play in forging solidarities with those seeking sanctuary, but also at how they should participate in contested and increasingly polarised debates about migration.
As the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) celebrates its 75th anniversary, and the Cities of Sanctuary movement celebrates its 20th, this conference is a timely opportunity to hear from a broad range of stakeholders from within our region and beyond, to learn from their experiences, and to encourage positive and creative conversations between speakers and groups with differing viewpoints.
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Time Session 09:30-10:00 Registration 10:00-10:05 Terrace Room
Opening remarks Phil Ward, Director of Eastern Arc
10:05-10:15 Terrace Room
Welcome Professor Sasha Roseneil, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex
10:15-11:15 Terrace Room
Opening keynote The constitutional and the compassionate: Catalysing partnerships of hope
Vicky Tennant, UNHCR Representative to the United Kingdom, and Krish Kandiah OBE, Founder and Director of the Sanctuary Foundation
11:15-11:45 Coffee 11:45-13:00 Morning Breakout Sessions Breakout session 1 A place-based lottery: Support for refugees seeking employment and entrepreneurship Joel Montgomery and Patricia Lewis (University of Kent), Ozgu Karakulak, Mirela Xheneti, Matilde Luscechi and Rana Zayaddin (University of Sussex), and Yevgeniia Gnatchenko (UEA)
Breakout session 2 Building partnerships of support in conflict-affected regions Geena Whiteman (British Council), Tahir Zaman (University of Sussex), Tom Parkinson (University of Kent), and Sham University colleague (TBC)
Breakout session 3 Creativity and community: Designing responsive arts engagement programmes Ratna Jan Bibi (Robin Hood Health Foundation), Edina Husanovic (University of Brighton), Angeliki Varakis-Martin (University of Kent), Kaveh Abbasian (University of Kent), Anna Oggero (PROJEKT EUROPA), Francisca Stangel (independent), Ismael Nchoutnsu Nsangou (University of Kent)
Breakout session 4 Student solidarity: The development and value of informal peer-to-peer networks for sanctuary scholars Rohullah Hakimi (UEA), Mohammad Naeim Maleki (UEA), Saifullah Danishwar (UEA), Ali Ahmadi (UEA)
Breakout session 5 Mitigating moral panics: Overcoming fear in host populations through conversation and engagement Rachel Larkin (University of Sussex) and Bridget Ng’andu (University of Kent)
13:00-14:00 Lunch 14:00-15:15 Afternoon Breakout Sessions Breakout session 6 Co-creating archives of solidarity Hande Cayir (SOAS), Zerrin Özlem Biner (Collège de France), Özge Biner Derdoy, David Herd (University of St Andrews), Leyla Neyzi (University of Glasgow), Tom Parkinson (University of Kent) and Sabine Strasser (University of Bern)
Breakout session 7 How do we support the continuation of higher education in Palestine? Aleks Palanac (University of Leicester) and Zahid Pranjol (University of Sussex)
Breakout session 8 Refugee research: Navigating ethical considerations in working with displaced people Moira Dustin (University of Sussex), Mohammad Naeim Maleki (UEA), Hilal Seda Yildiz (Arden University),
Breakout session 9 Barriers and enablers to higher and further education for refugees Divya Jose (Refugee Education UK) and Corinne Squire (University of Bristol OLIve Project)
Breakout session 10 Making the hidden visible: providing data to support the legal rights of refugees Steven Martin (Channel Monitoring Prjoect) and Jo Wilding (University of Sussex)
15:15-15:30 Coffee 15:30-16:30 Terrace Room
Closing keynote Sanctuary on Sea: What does it mean for Brighton and Hove to be a City of Sanctuary?
Professor Mike Collyer (University of Sussex) and panel
16:30-18:00 Wine reception and networking event -
The conference will be hosted in the Conference Suite at the University of Sussex.Registration will be on the third floor of Bramber House. The sessions will take place in:
- Third floor: The Terrace Room, Gallery Room 1 and 2
- Second floor: Seminar Rooms
Getting there
Details for the Conference Centre are as follows:
- Address: Bramber House, Refectory Rd, University of Sussex, Falmer BN1 9QU
- Location on the University of Sussex campus map (Bramber House is at C6)
- Location on Google maps
- Location via what3words:///cheese.quest.poster
Travel to the venue
- Travelling collectively: A coach will be available free of charge for those travelling from Norwich (University of East Anglia), Canterbury (University of Kent) and Colchester (University of Essex). However, places will be limited. For those who have requested this on the registration form, we will be in touch with further details closer to the date of the conference.
- Travelling independently: Full details of how to get to the campus are available on the University’s dedicated travel site, here.
Image: N Chadwick
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The conference is free to attend and open to all, within the Eastern Arc region and beyond, but places are limited. Please only register if you can commit to attend.
We are keen to have as wide a representation of individuals and organisations at the conference as possible. As such, we will wait until registration closes before confirming your place, so that we can ensure that there is a diverse and equitable balance of people attending and organisations represented.
To apply to take part, please complete this simple form. The deadline is midnight on Thursday 7 August 2025.
We will let you know shortly after whether you have been successful, and what the next steps are.