An international perspective on migration
A series of lectures, discussions, workshops, study visits and presentations of research by other students and researchers from across Europe explored migration from a variety of perspectives. Lectures were delivered by lecturers from universities within the UNIC Alliance – the expert panel included individuals from Belgium, Croatia, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, the United States, Sweden and Turkey.
Lecture topics – from gender to migration policies
During the lectures, the presenters addressed the following aspects of migration:
- the role of gender in contemporary migration processes,
- analysis of European government policies regarding migration,
- the organisation and conditions of migrant camps,
- the theory of intersectionality and contemporary migration processes
Istanbul as a living laboratory of migration
The summer school participants undertook study visits to Istanbul, visiting sites of particular importance to migration researchers, such as the multicultural Sarıyer district and the Armenian district of Tatava. They also participated in a field game, known as ethnowalking, during which they explored the history recorded in the area in real time.
Sharing experiences and building relationships
The summer school was also a great opportunity to make new connections and friendships with students from other universities.
Report by Piotr Rembowski
The summer school enabled me to gain new knowledge about contemporary migration processes and to organise my existing knowledge on the topic of migration. I met many wonderful people who work with migrants on a daily basis – from activists to professors and researchers. All this in a city that, like no other in the world, has been most profoundly shaped by migration processes throughout human history – Istanbul!
– reports Piotr Rembowski.
Piotr delivered a presentation entitled "The Role of Public Institutions in Activation of Migrants from Ukraine: The Case of Silesian and Lodz Regions", which is the result of research conducted at the University of Lodz Centre of Migration Studies as part of the project "Policies of local government authorities of the Lodz and Silesian voivodeships towards immigration (NCN, 2021-2025)".
Report by Katarzyna Matczak
Katarzyna led the presentation, "SAFER Ukraine – A case of children with cancer: specific needs for rapid action in safe evacuation." The lecture summarised the activities of the SAFER Ukraine initiative, in which the student played the role of co-founder of the triage centre and project coordinator for over two years.
The goal of SAFER Ukraine is to provide Ukrainian children with cancer and blood diseases with high-quality medical care in Ukraine and abroad by developing the capacity and international cooperation of medical institutions
– explains Katarzyna Matczak.
Who are the summer school participants from the University of Lodz?
Piotr Rembowski is a student of International Relations, a researcher of migration processes, and a member of the University of Lodz Centre of Migration Studies. He is also involved in social work and human rights activism.
Katarzyna Matczak is a nurse specialising in paediatric intensive care, a Business Management graduate (University of Derby), and a student of the GEMMA – Gender and Women’s Studies programme. From 2022 to 2024, she served as coordinator of the SAFER Ukraine project, which focuses on the evacuation of children with cancer from war zones, and her research project on nursing leadership in crisis situations was recognised with the SIOP Nursing Network Award (2023).
Organisers of the summer school
The summer school was organised by the MiReKoc – Migration Research Center at Koç University.
