EMMIR alumni gather in Oldenburg to celebrate 15 years and shape the programme’s future

This September, alumni from across the globe returned to Oldenburg for the EMMIR Alumni Gathering 2025, marking 15 years of the European Master in Migration and Intercultural Relations (EMMIR).

The three-day event brought together graduates from nearly every edition alongside current students, staff, the graduating Edition 11, current Edition 12 students, and the incoming Edition 13—creating a vibrant intergenerational meeting of the EMMIR community.

EMMIRians holding up fingers for the umber of their edition.

The gathering opened with welcome remarks by Dr. Lydia Potts, EMMIR’s Primary Coordinator, who reflected on the programme’s history and highlighted the global impact of its graduates. Alumni have gone on to play significant roles across academia, civil society, international organizations, and government.

• Read more: From Azerbaijan and Yemen, (I)NGOs to government bodies: charting EMMIR alumni's global impact

• Read more: EMMIR graduates navigating and thriving amidst global challenges: 2023 C8 + C9 alumni survey results

Looking forward

The reunion was not only a celebration but also an opportunity to contribute to the next Erasmus Mundus funding application. In a series of interactive breakout sessions, alumni engaged in Open Space discussions and working groups on both alumni engagement and programme innovation.

Key areas of discussion included:

• Psychosocial and community support: sustaining not only student, but alumni wellbeing and community bonds beyond graduation.

• Career transitions: innovative ways to support graduates as they enter the job market.

• Alumni in teaching and curriculum: building systematic pathways for alumni to contribute to future editions.

• Recognition and visibility of alumni: ensuring that diverse forms of success are acknowledged and celebrated.

• Programme innovation: strengthening curriculum content, partnerships, administration, and student wellbeing for the next programme cycle.

A growing community

Beyond the working sessions, the weekend emphasized the importance of alumni identity and connections. With more than 250 graduates in over 60 countries, the EMMIR network continues to expand in reach and influence. Participants reconnected through informal meet-ups, cohort photos, and alumni-led networking activities.

The gathering also intersected with the Edition 11 graduation ceremony, where alumni joined in celebrating the newest graduates and honoring Edition 8, whose original 2020 graduation had been held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Alumni activities continued into the evening with an informal celebration and the launch of community-building initiatives such as the Memory Envelopes and the Timeline Wall, which documented personal journeys, cohort milestones, and hopes for the future of EMMIR.

• Read more: Congratulations to EMMIR Edition 11 graduates!

On the second day, alumni-led speed networking and further working group discussions produced concrete recommendations ranging from enhanced career preparation during studies to expanded partnerships with institutions in refugee-hosting countries. The weekend concluded with a closing session and the exchange of memory envelopes—handwritten notes serving as a symbolic reminder of the connections renewed and strengthened.

The Alumni Gathering underscored that EMMIR is not only an academic programme but also a global network committed to advancing nuanced, human-centered understandings of migration. By combining reflection on the past with collaborative planning for the future, the reunion reaffirmed the strength and vision of the EMMIR community as it enters its next chapter.