Migration and Racism: Interculturality in a Changing Europe

Organised by: Instituto Politécnico de Santarém (Portugal) — Lia Pappámikail (lead), Tatiana Ferreira (lead); Medical University of Gdańsk; Carinthia University of Applied Sciences in Austria; University Constantin Brâncusi Târgu-Jiu

External stakeholders:

• AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo · Migration Observatory: Portuguese public agency for integration, migration and asylum · Policy framing and institutional perspectives
• Renovar a Mouraria Association (Lisbon): Migrant-led community association in one of Lisbon’s most diverse neighbourhoods · Field visit, community-based perspectives, dialogue with migrants

This Flavour School addresses one of the most urgent challenges facing contemporary European societies: how to live together in increasingly diverse contexts where migration, identity and racism intersect with public policy, civic life and everyday experience. Drawing on sociology, anthropology, law, public policy and intercultural studies, the course invites students to examine how racialisation shapes migrant trajectories, how institutions respond, and how civil society and migrant-led organisations build alternatives. Through field visits, dialogue with practitioners and structured intercultural teamwork, participants develop the analytical, ethical and practical competences needed to act as agents of inclusion in their own academic and community contexts.

Online launch (28 October 2026): Course kick-off and group formation across IPS, MUG, CUAS and UCB. Foundational frameworks: migration, racialisation, interculturality. Briefing on the on-site week and field visits. Synchronous online activities (hours TBC).

On-site sessions (2–6 November 2026 · IPSantarém · 5 days): Workshops on migration policy, anti-racism and intercultural mediation. Field visits and interactions with migrant communities, NGOs and government agencies. Collaborative work with stakeholders (AIMA Migration Observatory, Renovar a Mouraria). Challenge-based teamwork in interdisciplinary, intercultural student groups. Final group presentations and reflective synthesis.

Follow-up & reflection: Reflective essay on critical understanding and personal reflections about migration and racism. Group deliverable from the on-site challenge. Individual reflection on intercultural learning and competences acquired.

• Analyse how racialisation shapes migrant experiences and contributes to discrimination and social exclusion in Europe.
• Develop skills for effective intercultural communication and promote respect for cultural diversity in academic and social settings.
• Examine public policies and institutional practices related to migration, integration, human rights and anti-racism efforts, analysing their impacts and limitations.
• Cultivate critical and ethical perspectives towards social exclusion processes, fostering inclusive citizenship and human rights advocacy.
• Gain practical competencies in intercultural mediation and anti-racist actions applicable in higher education and community environments.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Critically analyse migration, racialisation and interculturality through interdisciplinary lenses.
• Communicate effectively across cultures in academic and social settings.
• Evaluate the impacts and limitations of migration, integration and anti-racism policies.
• Engage ethically with civil society organisations, public institutions and migrant communities.
• Apply intercultural mediation and anti-racist tools in their own academic and community contexts.
• Work effectively in international, interdisciplinary and intercultural teams.

Level: Undergraduate and graduate students from any ACE²-EU partner university.

Fields: Social Sciences · Sociology · Anthropology · Law · Education · Public Policy · Public Health · Social Work · Communication · Humanities · International Relations · Human Rights.

Suitable for those interested in: Migration · Anti-racism · Interculturality · Civil society engagement · Public policy · Field-based learning · Working in international and intercultural teams.

Language: English B1–B2 (to confirm).