RESEARCH TITLE
Developing a New Curriculum in Global Migration, Diaspora and Border Studies in East-Central Europe (GlocalEAST)
RESEARCH FIELD
Migration
RESEARCH SUBJECT
It has been envisaged for the research to result in the creation of an innovative curriculum in migration, diaspora and border studies and establishment of a platform of experts from academic, NGOs and local governmental institutions, monitoring migration and integration processes in East-Central Europe.
PROBLEM
The preliminary analysis of the critical elements affecting national higher education systems identified the following issues to be addressed with this project:
The lack of interdisciplinary pedagogical methodologies corresponding to the emerging educational needs in Migration and Border studies, especially in the aftermath of the latest ‘migration crises’ in the Western Balkans and Ukraine;
The lack of a functional connection between the academic environment, governmental institutions, labour market and civil society, i.e. NGOs.
Weak cross-border cooperation when it comes to research of migration issues, especially in light of the permanent intertwining of the global and local dimensions of the refugee crisis in Europe.
RESEARCH
The GlocalEAST strategic partnership in migration, diaspora, and border studies is designed to address the contemporary global and local challenges in East-Central Europe by promoting research, practice and political links in addressing migration issues, following both transnational and trans-sectoral perspectives. It has been envisaged for the research to result in the creation of an innovative curriculum in migration, diaspora and border studies and establishment of a platform of experts from academic, NGOs and local governmental institutions monitoring migration and integration processes in East-Central Europe.
On the one hand, the establishment of a network gathering local actors in the academic world and civil society at both regional and national levels is meant to lay the groundwork for designing and developing new learning outcomes-based educational tools (including digital) that will be integrated into the existing curricula to meet the labour market and societal needs, thus tackling skill gaps in managing migration issues. On the other hand, the GlocalEAST network will work as a platform for analysing both local and global dimensions of migration flows, together with dynamics of social inclusion, encouraging the training of academics and exchange of good practices in new and innovative multi-disciplinary pedagogies.
RESULT
Through the lens of migration, diaspora and border studies, the project activities are aimed at implementing innovative practices in the field of education and promoting the specialisation of youth workers by: (a) raising a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the refugee crisis in Europe, focusing on both the local and global dimensions of migration, thanks to the implementation of a new curriculum in migration, diaspora and border studies in East-Central Europe; (b) addressing the global analysis of the needs and problems undermining territorial and political cohesion in East-Central Europe in the aftermath of the recent crisis in the Western Balkans (2015-); (c) promoting knowledge-based and evidence-based practices that have a political impact thanks to the transnational collaboration of EU and extra-EU higher education institutions and non-governmental institutions; (d) linking the work of higher education institutions and non-governmental institutions, thus impacting the actions of local and regional governmental authorities.
