Cardiff Metropolitan University has offered sanctuary to academics from Afghanistan who have been forced to flee as a result of the current political crisis.

President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cara Aitchison, has written to Zeid Al-Bayaty from the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) University to offer assistance to academics from Afghanistan seeking sanctuary in the UK.

Professor Aitchison said: “Whilst we recognise the need for academic and scientific talent to remain in Afghanistan to offer the best prospects for the country’s future, we also appreciate that this might not be possible for all academics, at least in the short-term. As such, we would like to offer appropriate sanctuary and would be happy to meet the costs of hosting up to four academic staff with immediate effect.

“Wales is a welcoming nation and local authorities across Wales have, today, announced their willingness to house families displaced by current events. Working with local authorities there is the possibility of linking sanctuary-based employment with accommodation.”

Cardiff Met, named The Times and Sunday Times Welsh University of the Year 2021, was the first university in Wales to be designated as a University of Sanctuary and Professor Aitchison is a member of the recently established UK Universities of Sanctuary Steering Group.

The University has an established track record of providing ‘Sanctuary Scholarships’ for both undergraduate and postgraduate students seeking asylum and now extends this offer to academic staff.