2nd Position - Migration & Society – An Interdisciplinary Introduction
Course Summary:
The course provides a general introduction to migration studies through a series of thematic lectures and discussions. The first part of the course comprises lectures that draw from various disciplines, covering topics such as global migration trends, legal pathways of migration, and the politics of migration and mobility. These lectures delve into concepts of migration governance and its selective policing, as well as the implications of popular imaginaries of diversity and integration.
The second part of the course focuses on interdisciplinary discussions surrounding specific migration-related topics. Each class is structured as a dialogue between two disciplines, enabling students to explore the same topic from different perspectives. This approach facilitates an immersive experience in contemporary debates on migration and fosters interdisciplinary dialogue.
Course Design:
- International & Interdisciplinary perspectives
The course covers a range of migration-related topics, including contemporary forms of racism and discrimination, migrants' identities, language barriers in accessing social services, migrants' place-making and infrastructures, and the representation of refugees in media and NGOs. Discussions between students are interdisciplinary, bringing together different fields of study.
For instance, within the topic of racism and discrimination, students examine the social and economic dynamics at play and gain insight into the structural barriers faced by migrants and the impact of discrimination on their integration into society. Similarly, conversations on refugee representation explore the connections between communication sciences and policy-making, examining power dynamics in shaping narratives.
The lecturers themselves are a multidisciplinary team of educators, affiliated to Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees (CESSMIR) at Ghent University.
- Active Teaching Methodologies
The course utilizes active teaching methodologies. Introductory lectures are given by experts who provide disciplinary perspectives on migration-related concepts, theories, and findings. Guest lecturers contribute to the interdisciplinary dialogues, which are followed by student-led discussions in a flipped classroom format. Students prepare questions in advance, discuss them in small groups, and engage in collective discussions with the guest lecturers.
- Formative assessments and feedback
Formative assessments and feedback are provided through group assignments. Students work in diverse groups and critically approach migration-related topics from multiple disciplinary perspectives. They address significant debates in migration studies by drawing on at least two distinct disciplines. Case studies provided by guest lecturers and guided by PhD coaches assist students in formulating research questions, providing initial literature references, and receiving feedback. The end product is a group essay.
Overall, the course fosters interdisciplinary engagement, critical thinking, and collaborative learning to deepen understanding of migration-related issues from various disciplinary angles.
In the following video, you can watch designers of the course explain their motivations, processes and experiences of implementing the course.
Contact:
Prof. Ilse Derluyn