Politics of Migration. A Policy-Oriented Summer School

About

Coordinators: Andrea Pettrachin, Matteo Bassoli & Laura Lo Presti. The School is organized by the
Department of Political Science, Law and International Studies of the University of Padua, with the
support of the Department of Historical and Geographical Sciences and the Ancient World
(University of Padua), EURAC, the University of Liege, the University of Birmingham and the
University of Neuchâtel.
The Summer School The Politics of Migration is an international residential educational initiative
promoted by the University of Padua. It aims to offer critical and interdisciplinary insights into
contemporary migration politics. Within the evolving landscape of complementary academic
offerings, it stands out as the first Summer School specifically designed for master’s students (and
advanced undergraduate students) focused on migration policy. The School seeks to create a
stimulating environment for learning, exchange, and the development of academic and
professional skills in the fields of migration, public policy, and international relations.
The program will take place over five intensive days at the Centro Studi per l’Ambiente Alpino in San
Vito di Cadore. The adopted approach is Challenge-Based Learning, which encourages active
student participation in solving real-world problems and formulating policy proposals.
In addition to providing theoretical and analytical tools to understand migration policies at the
European and global levels, the Summer School will promote the development of transversal soft
skills such as teamwork, synthesis and communication, policy design, and the effective
presentation of project ideas to policymakers. Career-oriented activities and interactions with non-
governmental and international organizations will allow participants to explore potential
professional pathways in the sector.

Activities:
● Six interactive and interdisciplinary academic sessions on five thematic areas: International
Migration and Borders; Public Policies and Migration; Citizenship Policies and Politics;
Migration and International Relations; and Policy Advocacy and Engagement.
● Two sessions dedicated to the development of applied competences (applied skill sessions)
● Three career planning sessions with experts working in international organizations,
European institutions, and international NGOs.
● Six group activities aimed at drafting and presenting policy briefs. During collaborative work
sessions, students—divided into small groups—will develop a policy brief addressing a real
issue in the field of migration, under the supervision of expert faculty members. Students
are expected to finalize their policy brief after the conclusion of the School and submit it to
obtain the certificate of participation.
● A field visit and/or interactive session with local authorities and other stakeholders
engaged in the field of international migration.
Target participants: Master’s students, with a maximum of 21 participants. The School is primarily
designed for students who have ideally already attended courses on migration policy or related
topics, but remains open to those without prior experience. Participants will be selected through
an open call requiring the submission of a curriculum vitae and a motivation letter, where they are
also asked to specify the academic courses they have attended on migration-related issues and
other experiences they have in the field.
Credits: 3 ECTS credits with final grade, based on evaluation of students’ engagement in the School
and the final assignment to be submitted by 15 September.
Academic Board and Lecturers:
The sessions will be conducted by European scholars and experts in the field of migration policy.
The teaching team will include members of the Academic Board as well as four external experts
(practitioners) working in international organizations, European institutions, and NGOs active in
the area of international migration. The Academic Board includes the following members (TBC):
● Matteo Bassoli, Associate Professor, University of Padua
● Gianni d’Amato, Full Professor, University of Neuchâtel, and Director of the research center
NCCR on the Move: The Migration-Mobility Nexus
● Laura Lo Presti, Assistant Professor, University of Padua
● Andrea Pettrachin, Assistant Professor, University of Padua
● Gerasimos Tsourapas, Chair and Professor of International Relations, University of
Birmingham, and Principal Investigator of an ERC project
● Daniela Vintila, Associate Professor, University of Liège, and Coordinator of the IMISCOE
Network and the Standing Group on Migration & Ethnicity of the European Consortium for
Political Research
● Verena Wisthaler, Head of the Center for Migration and Diversity, EURAC Research

Target group

Target: Bachelor’s and Master’s students
Minimum number of participants: 20
Maximum number of participants: 25

Course aim

Participants will Eengage with leading scholars, international experts, and practitioners from major research networks such as IMISCOE and ECPR through interactive seminars, skill-building workshops, field visits, and team projects — and gain the critical tools needed to understand migration and shape the policies of tomorrow

Fee info