Centre for Refugee Education and Settlement Studies (CRESS)

The Centre for Refugee Education and Settlement Studies (CRESS) is a specialized research and publishing department within the Canadian Foundation for Refugee Education (CFRE). Established to consolidate and advance CFRE’s research agenda, CRESS serves as a hub for generating evidence-based knowledge, informing practice, and influencing policy in the fields of refugee education and settlement.

 

Grounded in principles of collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation, CRESS combines academic rigor with refugee-led perspectives to address the complex educational and settlement challenges facing displaced communities. Its work spans interdisciplinary and participatory research, policy engagement, and knowledge dissemination through scholarly publications and accessible resources.

 

CRESS fosters partnerships with refugee-led organizations, grassroots initiatives, academic institutions, governments, and international agencies, ensuring that refugees are not only subjects of research but active collaborators and leaders in shaping solutions. Through capacity-building initiatives, CRESS also mentors emerging scholars, practitioners, and refugee leaders, cultivating a network of expertise that strengthens both academic inquiry and community advocacy.​

 

As a research-driven extension of CFRE’s mission, CRESS advances the foundation’s role as both a practitioner and thought leader, contributing to the development of innovative, community-informed approaches that enhance educational access, psychosocial wellbeing, and settlement experiences for refugees worldwide.