A week of learning at Charles University's Summer School on Migration Studies

by Giuliana Speranza, EMMIR Edition 11 student

From August 18th to 24th 2024, I had the privilege of participating in an enriching Summer School Program in Migration Studies in Prague, organised by the Faculty of Science at Charles University, in collaboration with the Geographic Migration Centre GEOMIGRACE, IOM Czechia, the UN Information Centre in Prague, and UNHCR. I was fortunate to share this incredible experience with my Edition 11 classmate, Abdullah Ammar.

From left to right: Abdullah Ammar (EMMIR Edition 11), Prof. Dr. Salim Murad (University of South Bohemia), and Giuliana Speranza (EMMIR Edition 11).

This intensive one-week program brought together a diverse group of scholars, practitioners, and students from all over the world to engage in meaningful discussions and hands-on learning about the contemporary challenges of migration and the strategies for effective integration. The curriculum was a mix of theory and practical insights, covering topics like migration policies, climate migration, social cohesion, and the economic, sociocultural, and legal aspects of refugee integration.

Throughout the week, we had the opportunity to attend expert-led lectures by distinguished professionals in the field. Lecturers such as Rinus Penninx, Mohammad Jalal Abbasi-Shavazi, Michal Vašečka, Martin Rozumek and Kern Peter, among others, shared their in-depth analyses of global and regional migration trends. The discussions that followed these lectures helped us think critically about the complexities of migration.

Participants of the Summer School on Migration Studies program 2024 at Charles University in Prague, Czechia.

One of the most inspiring moments for me was the lecture by Eric Opoku Ware. His presentation was not just an academic discussion but a powerful personal narrative. He recounted the journey he undertook from Ghana, crossing the Sahara Desert in search of a better life. This dangerous experience ultimately motivated him to establish the Sahara Hustlers Association, aiming to raise awareness about the dangers of irregular migration. His story was both inspiring and thought-provoking, adding a personal touch to academic learning.

Both Ammar and I also had the chance to talk about our EMMIR experience at the beginning of Prof Salim Murad's lecture where we got to reflect and share what the program has taught us, the brilliant discussions and different perspectives we have had in classes, the intercultural exchanges we had over potlucks and conversations and just how important it is to study migration. I also got to experience similar exchanges with the people at the Summer School outside of the lectures where conversations usually reflected what we learned and were excited to hear more. 

Edition 11 students Ammar and Giuliana presenting about the EMMIR program at the summer school

This Summer School Program was more than just an academic exercise; with 90 participants from all over the world, it was a chance to engage in discussions, reflect deeply on migration and its impact and make use of the knowledge learned and apply it in our future work and endeavours. It was an inspiring and valuable experience, and I’m grateful to have been part of it.