Building a culture of welcome and belonging in Edinburgh

Providing continued access to education is one of the ways that University communities can contribute to a culture of welcome. This is the mission of Education Beyond Borders at the University of Edinburgh.

Individuals also have the power to make a difference. Anyone can make an impact through Simple Acts, and collectively, these small steps can create a big change for those seeking sanctuary.

Four Education Beyond Borders scholars share their experiences of small gestures, important conversations, kindness and support, and access to education – all of which have had an impact on their student life and sense of belonging while living here in Scotland. 

Natalia, from Ukraine – studying MSc Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Natalia said she feels encouraged when people take an interest and actively listen to other people’s stories. She said, "Showing a bit of interest, asking genuine questions, and giving a bit of attention to those who want to be heard, can really give people confidence.”

She added, “It might be that you don’t fully understand the culture, or the realities around you, because starting life over in a new place means you need to adapt and learn every day. And when you see people who are actually listening to what you are saying is truly life changing. You grow in confidence, you feel like you matter, that your experience matters. It really makes a difference.”

She also reflected on a small act of kindness that gave her a sense of hope and belonging when her family first arrived. “I remembered one simple act, a small thing that happened when I first arrived here with my children. We were living with the host family and it felt uncertain and temporary. We expected to go back home at some point, but we never knew if it would happen. I hadn’t really thought about building our life here in Scotland because we wanted to go back to Ukraine.

“One day, a friend of our host, who was renovating her house, brought us a box with brand new dinner plates she’d found. They were still packed, they had never been used. She didn't need them so she gave them to us and said that these plates could be the beginning for our new home here in Scotland.

“Maybe this didn’t mean much for her, just giving away stuff she no longer wanted. But it was actually a big gesture for me. It meant a lot. I kept the box in a cupboard and each time I saw it there was a small feeling of hope. When we eventually moved into our rented flat, we started using those plates and now each time I use them I remember the impact of this simple gesture. 

Mahmoud, from Palestine – 2025 graduate, Master of Laws (LLM) in Human Rights

Mahmoud spoke of how welcome he’d felt since arriving in Scotland. He said, “Scotland is so historic, beautiful, almost magical country. I love this country a lot, especially the people. For us, displaced people, there are so many friendly people to support us and who smile with us. I think it was the best decision to come to this country – I plan to stay here for a while! I’ve felt so welcome.”

He also spoke of how getting the right care and support helped him cope when life felt challenging. 

Mohammad Alkhatib, from Syria – 2025 graduate, Master of Science in Translation Studies

Mohammad commented that having such a diverse student community really enriched his learning experience. He said, “One thing that stands out about my programme is that it was so multicultural and diverse. Everybody brings their own insights into the classroom. It was an eye-opener to new things that people from different cultures struggle with or regularly face and then we would share ideas. That was really one of the highlights of the programme – the diversity. There was such a different bunch of languages within the programme – French, Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese – but when we got together in the classes, whether theory or practice, that was really enriching.”

“Having access to cutting edge courses, developing presentation skills, the writing assignments, even being able to attend conferences, was all beneficial. It’s worth highlighting the diversity and the multiculturalism of the programme because that aspect was so enriching. Outside of the classroom, it seems impossible that you would meet all these people from various cultures in one place.  

Olha Harhola, from Ukraine – 2025 graduate, Master of Laws (LLM) in Law

Olha remembered having mixed first impressions of Edinburgh, having moved from London where she did a student exchange, commenting, “Edinburgh was very different from London – much smaller, older, and definitely much colder. At first glance, it can seem a little harsh, but I quickly found it to be an incredibly welcoming place. People were kind, open, and eager to make friends, which left me with a very positive impression. The transition was a little challenging at first, but once my programme began, everything became much easier.”

“In the beginning, the Education Beyond Borders team played a huge role in helping us settle in. They organised lunches, provided us with essential items, and were always available whenever we needed support. Their kindness and generosity made a real difference, and I always felt that they were there to help us.” 

She pointed out that close friendships made a difference too, saying, “I was fortunate to have a great group of friends in Edinburgh, and we supported each other throughout the programme. During exam periods, we encouraged one another, and before my vacation scheme, my friends were a huge source of support. There were times when I faced challenges, but I never felt alone. Whenever I encountered difficulties, I realised that many of my classmates were dealing with similar issues, which made things feel much more manageable in the end.” 

Refugee Week is celebrated annually in June. Discover more about the events and stories from across the University community. Together, let's unite in our community of welcome and support.