From 24 June to 5 July 2024, the Migration Policy Centre at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies conducted the 20th edition of its Migration Summer School, commemorating two decades of impact in migration studies. This edition continued to offer advanced training and encouraged deep academic discussions about recent trends in research on the transnational governance of international migration, asylum, and mobility.
The programme included debates, teamwork, sessions with experts, and project presentations, all aimed at enhancing participants' understanding and professional skills in migration research and policy.
This year, 32 individuals from 21 countries participated in this two-week course, including Brazil, Canada, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand, Tunisia, and the United States. The participants came from various professional backgrounds, including postgraduate students, civil servants, NGO representatives, journalists, policy analysts, and educators.
Lorenzo Piccoli, the Course Coordinator, emphasised, “While migration is often viewed as a political issue, people deeply care about it and are struggling to respond to its complexity. We need spaces like this where practitioners can learn the latest academic research, listen to views from around the world, and critically reflect on how they can respond.”
The Migration Summer School, established in 2005, has consistently provided a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and advanced training in migration studies while fostering a global network. The course’s themes have evolved to address the changing landscape of migration, from Euro-Mediterranean dynamics to contemporary issues like climate-induced migration and technological impacts. The diversity of participants and faculty has increased, and practical components such as site visits and workshops have been incorporated.
While the core mission and format of the Migration Summer School have remained largely unchanged, there has been a noticeable upswing. Over time, and especially in its 20th anniversary year, the Migration Summer School has experienced a remarkable increase in global demand. Applications have more than doubled, rising from around 200 annually a decade ago to 479 this year. "These two weeks epitomise what we do best – providing a platform for critical engagement, interdisciplinary learning, and fostering global networks", highlighted Director of the Migration Policy Centre Andrew Geddes.