A Global View on Migration

Understand migration-related topics from all over the world and contribute to a shared community by buddying with young refugees.

Millions of people around the world are forcibly displaced. But what are the forces and stories behind these numbers? In this minor, students will not only read about and understand these migration-related topics, but students will also get the opportunity to take their responsibility to contribute to a shared community by being a buddy to a young (former) refugee.
By following seminars and lectures, students will 1) learn to put current migration in a global perspective, 2) learn about core theories and debates in the field of migration studies, and separate facts from fictions by studying empirical research. Moreover, 3) by participating in a buddy system and initiating activities with the community, students will enhance core competencies such as empathy, listening, commitment, and taking responsibility. Through actively reflecting on their experiences with their buddies and relating this to the academic insights and knowledge from the minor, students will develop an interdisciplinary, as well as interpersonal perspective on migration. Ultimately, this minor will enhance students’ understanding of societal problems and broaden their view, which will in turn benefit society in creating more understanding.
Learning about migration movements in all continents permits putting public discourse into perspective and taking migration studies seriously as a scholarly activity. Such macro views and figures will be combined with the micro accounts of real people, as well as with the framing of migration discourse, allowing for a multi-level focus on migration studies. To do so, this minor will combine different educational formats to achieve the learning goals that are set out for this course:

• Explain theoretical concepts related to migration;
• Contextualize migration situations in various parts of the world historically, socially, and politically.
• Explain, discuss, and critically assess theories of migration;
• Address and understand the historical, legal, political, sociological, and criminological aspects of international migration;
• Generate, and elaborate an interdisciplinary, in-depth understanding of a specific aspect of migration;
• Understand and critically reflect on the experiences of young (former) refugees who are impacted by extreme life experiences (e.g., war);
• Collaborate to structure (and organise) a seminar around the migration situation of a specific part of the world;
• Create personal learning goals during the course and reflect on the achievement of these learning goals;
• Reflect on their growth in skills (e.g., empathy, listening, commitment, motivation and taking responsibility) and how this has an effect on their relationship with young refugees;
• Reflect on their own experience with working with refugees and relate this to the academic knowledge and insights gained during the minor.

• While the academic assignments (lectures, workgroups and assignments) will be in English, due to the nature of the buddy program with young refugees, participating students should have sufficient Dutch language comprehension (CEFR Level A2);
• Due to the nature of the minor, 100% mandatory attendance is required.
• Due to the nature of the minor, some activities might occur after 18:00.

Teaching methods
The course will last for 10 weeks, in which students will complete 80+ hours of volunteering work in the community.
The assignments synthesize classroom - and community-based learning. This engaged learning project offers students the opportunity to engage directly with and reflect on issues in the migrant community. The weekly activities serve the different of learning objectives.
Every week will consist of the following activities:

• Interactive lectures ;
• A student-led seminar;
• A buddy meeting;
• An informal activity to build community between students and their buddies.

Teaching materials
Apart from some basic texts, most sources and materials will be collected by students themselves.

Method of examination
The assessment of this minor will consist of a combination of summative assessments (i.e., an individual paper and a personal reflection report) and performances (i.e., a student-led seminar) and formative assessments (i.e., weekly reflections on students’ learning goals and experiences as a buddy).

The assessment of this minor will consist of the following parts:

• A student-led tutorial (SLT) that is done in teams (40%);
• An individual portfolio consisting of an academic paper and individual reflections (50%);
• Professional conduct (10%).
• The Academic Rules and regulations of EUC apply to this minor.

Composition final grade
Portfolio (academic paper and individual reflections): 50%
Student-led tutorial in teams (40%: 30% team performance, 10% individual reflection on SLT)

https://www.eur.nl/onderwijs/minoren