Programme

Europe’s demography in terms of ethno-cultural composition is rapidly diversifying in an unprecedented way. The majority group in urban areas is morphing into a minority amidst other minorities. This is caused by the outcome of labour migration in the past, but equally so by continuous migration in the present and the recent inflow of large numbers of refugees. These topics have become a priority issue for policymakers at the national and EU-level. Leading (European) politicians such as Angela Merkel have claimed multiculturalism has failed as a policy strategy, and new ways of addressing diversity need to be found. At the same time, demographers are pointing out Europe's population will be shrinking if the rate of migration does not increase in the coming decades. There is a great concern from different ideological perspectives on how to deal adequately with superdiversity as it affects all realms of society and as continuing inequalities seem difficult to transform. The fifth edition of the Summer School ‘Europe: Diversity and Migration’ addresses these issues from an interdisciplinary perspective and in doing so, provides participants with insights, practices and skills to understand the current transformation of Europe with regard to diversity and migration.

Some of the crucial questions addressed during the summer school are:

• How is society to be imagined when ethnic majorities are becoming a minority in Europe’s largest cities?
• Can historical processes of urbanization and diversification help us to understand current processes?
• How to manage and organise diversity in European countries?
• What role can the European Union play in addressing the issues of migration and diversity?
• How do society’s core institutions such as the political, judicial, educational and labour market system, need to be reconfigured in light of these changing diversity and migration patterns?
• What new modes of belonging and collective identities are emerging?
• What are the possible ‘futures’ of European societies giving the evermore increasing diversity and ongoing and changing migration trends?

To answer these questions this summer school aims to relate the national and supranational level, with particular interest to the EU’s response to these societal transformations, to local experiences and processes. The summer school provides participants with concrete insights, information and tools based on theoretical perspectives and empirical case studies. In doing so it reveals the interrelations between the micro-, meso- and macro-level processes that shape and impact processes on diversity and migration. This allows a more fine-grained and in-depth understandings of the complex relationships between migration and integration processes within Europe and beyond.

The summer school is primarily designed for Master students and Bachelor students who are interested in deepening their knowledge about Europe related diversity & migration issues. Participants looking for a relevant mixture of theoretical, empirical and practical insights from an interdisciplinary perspective are warmly encouraged to apply. The summer school is open to students and graduates from different disciplines. 

Applicants are required to have some prior experience with the topic of diversity & migration and basic knowledge on Europe and its institutions. In the application process, candidates will submit a motivation letter.

English is the language of instruction. As active participation is compulsory in the course, English proficiency is required.

Study credits

Successful completion of the summer school can be awarded with 4 credits according the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Credits will be awarded on the base of preparatory readings, 100 % (active) participation during the course, submission of one essay and participation in a group assignment. More information on the deliverables can be found below. Students interested in earning 2 additional credits can submit an individual paper, building further upon the findings of the group work, within two months after the end of the summer school.

To include the credits in the curriculum at the home institution, participants need an agreement with the responsible person at their university. A certificate will be awarded at the end of the programme.

Deliverables

All participants of the course are expected to attend and actively participate in all sessions of the summer school. Moreover, participants will need to submit a short essay prior to the course in which their expectations of the course are outlined. Additionally, all participants need to complete a group assignment during the summer school. Each group assignment shall be presented at the end of the second week. The group works will make participants combine and apply aspects of their previous knowledge and skills acquired during the sessions of the summer school. The goal is to formulate an answer to one of the academic research questions offered at the beginning of the course, hereby making use of the content handled during the course (lectures, reading material, etc), personal experiences and other external sources.

International and interdisciplinary teams will be made and assigned to a specific research question or task, based on profile and preferences. Sufficient working time will be provided throughout the course to duly prepare for the presentations.

Participants will be able to get in touch with peers attending other summer schools at the Antwerp Summer University. A visit to the beautiful city hall, a networking reception, a guided city walk, a quiz night, a soccer game and a day-trip to another Belgian city such as Bruges or Brussels are only some examples of these activities.

All activities of the social programme are offered free of charge, in some cases participants will be asked for a deposit which will be reimbursed upon participation to the activity.