Migration and Integration: Refugees, Rights & Realities

What are the legal, political & human ramifications of the current refugee crisis? How should states handle the recent mass migration? What are the forces behind this influx? How do international organizations and sovereign state respond to the challenge of millions of displaced persons? And what about the immigrants themselves? Are they interested to permanently settle in Europe or are they better off in countries ‘in the region’? How can they, given their diverse backgrounds, be integrated best into the European societies?

This interdisciplinary three-week course introduces students to key issues in the legal, (geo)political, sociological and anthropological analysis of forced migration. It enables students to understand the context in which the recent influx of migrants takes place, the social change this triggers and the efforts needed to successfully integrate the newcomers.

Course leader

Evelien van Roemburg. Evelien is a lecturer at the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Science at the University of Amsterdam, where she is specialised in conflict studies, refugee studies and the United Nations.

Target group

For current university students (Bachelors and Masters) in the arts and social sciences with an interest in political science, international relations, and migration studies. For working professionals with a desire to continue their education in this field.

Course aim

The first week of the course will explore the journey of refugees on a macro scale by unpacking the various factors involved in forced migration. We will focus on global politics, get an introduction in international refugee law and learn more about the link between development and migration. In the second week, we will look specifically into the various displacement situations across the world: the Syrian refugee crisis, the genocide on the Rohingya and their flight to Bangladesh, the migration crisis in Latin America, the influx of refugees into Europe and the political crisis this led to, and the protracted refugee situation in the African Great Lakes region. In the final week, we will dive deeper into the topic of integration of refugees, both in the Netherlands and elsewhere, as well as grass-roots initiatives.

Credits info

6 EC
Upon successful completion of the programme, students who wish to earn credits will receive an official transcript stating the courses taken, credits earned and grades obtained.

Fee info

EUR 1650: Tuition fee. Including lunch on class days, all course materials, excursions and events.
EUR 650: Housing fee (optional).

Scholarships

Please visit our website for more information on scholarships.