World University Service (WUS)

Papers from the Chile Programme and Women's Campaign along with papers from several WUS international and UK-based projects. WUS administrative papers including annual reports, minutes, and correspondence and printed material including pamphlets, newsletters and journals.

World University Service (WUS) was established in England in 1923 as Student Relief. The original mission of the organisation was to assist refugees from central European nationalism in continuing their education and careers. In the 1950s the organisation evolved into the World University Service, when it played a significant role after 1956 (following the uprising) in assisting Hungarian students in the UK.

After the Prague Spring of 1968 until 1971 WUS assisted Czechoslovak students to study in Britain.

In the 1970's and until 1985 WUS managed scholarship programme for Chileans, who had their studies interrupted by the 1973 coup and were at risk. Many hundreds of people were brought over by WUS, while scholarships were also made to those in the UK. Over 900 scholarships were awarded, while the programme was supported by the informal grouping of Academic's for Chile and with Overseas Development Aid funding.

Other significant scholarship programmes were developed for Ugandan, Ethiopian and Vietnamese students in the UK.

In 1970s WUS funded over 500 students a year at the University of Rhodesia [Zimbabwe] before independence.During this time WUS acted as a pressure group on overseas student fees, refugee students and latterly on human rights and development.

WUS also ran numerous other projects and programmes, both internationally and within Britain. The international programmes aimed to develop and support education initiatives in developing countries and improve literacy amongst women. The UK programmes provided education and training to refugees in Britain.

In June 2003 WUS adopted the operating name Education Action International to reflect more closely their goals and activities. The Refugee Education & Training Advisory Service (RETAS) is part of EAI. WUS went into liquidation in early 2010.

This collection is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/using/

Link to full catalogue: https://mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk/records/WUS