ELGS Migration Summer School on Migration Pathways

“Migration Pathways: Rethinking Socio-economic Mobility in contemporary Migration Governance”

21-25 July 2025

Athens and Sounion – In situ

In collaboration with MEDMA – An agency of the EPLO

Α 4-day program in English will investigate the intricate interplay between humanitarian pathways and labor mobility schemes
Open for Practitioners, NGO Professionals, Researchers & Post-Graduate Students of all disciplines (i.e. Sociology, Social Policy, International Relations, Human Rights, and Economics et al.)
Meet key academics and experts working in the field
On-site visits to Accommodation facilities and NGOs

The Context

How do EU policies shape migration and refugee management in one of the world’s most complex regions?

Join us for an immersive summer school that explores the intricate interplay between humanitarian pathways and labor mobility schemes. This program delves into how migration and refugee governance impact the lives of millions, with a special focus on EU policies and their implementation in Greece and the East-Mediterranean region.

Through expert-led discussions, field visits and interactive case studies, this course offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge in a dynamic and critical area of migration studies.

About the Program

The 2025 summer course on Migration Pathways: Rethinking socio-economic mobility in contemporary migration governance offers an in-depth exploration of the intricate dynamics of migration governance, focusing on the intersection of humanitarian pathways and socio-economic mobility schemes. Participants will delve into European Union policies, with particular attention to their implementation in Greece and the East Mediterranean region. Through a blend of expert-led discussions, interactive case studies, and experiential field visits, the course aims to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the legal frameworks governing migration and the challenges faced by migrants and refugees in achieving socio-economic mobility. Key topics include the roles of state and non-state actors, existing barriers to integration, and innovative practices that foster sustainable mobility options. By critically examining these elements, participants will gain insights into the complexities of migration policies and their impact on migrants’ lives.

What to Expect:

Expert-led discussions on the latest EU migration policies, legal frameworks, and governance models.
Case studies to understand how policies translate into real-life experiences for migrants and refugees.
Field visits to key migration management sites, proving exposure to real-world challenges and solutions in migration management.
Interaction with state and non-state actors, including policymakers, humanitarian organizations and grassroots initiatives.
Insight into the complex landscape of safe, legal, and sustainable mobility options for displaced populations.

Addressed to

Our summer course is perfect for:
• Interdisciplinary applicants, including postgraduate students, PhD candidates, researchers from fields such as Sociology, Social Policy, International Relations, Human Rights, and Economics.
• NGO professionals
• Individuals interested in the complexities of migration, refugee management, and labor mobility, especially within the context of EU policy and the Mediterranean region.
• Those seeking an interactive experience to deepen their understanding of EU migration policies and practices.

Learning Objectives

•Understand Migration Governance: Gain a comprehensive knowledge of the legal frameworks and policies governing migration within the European Union, with a specific focus on Greece and the East Mediterranean region.
• Analyze Socio-Economic Mobility: Explore the relationship between humanitarian pathways and socio-economic mobility schemes, identifying key factors that influence migrants’ ability to achieve better living conditions and opportunities.
• Evaluate Roles of Actors: Examine the roles of state and non-state actors in migration governance and integration processes, assessing their impact on migrants’ experiences and opportunities.
• Identify Barriers to socio-economic integration: Recognize existing barriers that hinder the socio-economic integration of migrants and refugees into host communities, and analyze innovative practices that can help overcome these obstacles.

Certificate

Participants will be awarded a certificate of attendance at the end of the program, after demonstrating their full and active participation throughout the 4-day course. The program does not require written work to be submitted or exams to be taken.

Languages

The Summer School program is offered in English.

Cost

550€ which includes tuition fees, transportation costs from the hotel in Sounion to the lecture hall, and study visits arrangement..

How to Apply

Applicants should submit an updated CV and letter of motivation in English to summerschools@elgs.eu, T: +30 211 311 0 671 by June 30, 2025 .

Practical Information:

Accommodation

Students are invited to secure their accommodation and transportation or may opt for an accommodation package that is provided through the EPLO. Participants will be accommodated at the seaside premises of the EPLO at Sounion, Greece, or at a partner hotel. Accommodation is on a first-come-first-serve basis and students interested in this package should inquire at summerschools@elgs.eu

Facilities

The program takes place at EPLO facilities in Sounion, one hour away from Athens by car, overlooks the Aegean Sea, and is located by the bay of Cape Sounion, where the ancient Temple of Poseidon rests. Participants will have access to EPLO facilities, which include a resource library, study room, and sports facilities.

Students are encouraged to bring a laptop in order to study relevant references and reading material including statistics, maps, reports, scientific articles on aspects of the phenomenon of migration and refugee flows, and presentations used by the speakers.

Applied in collaboration with MedMA

The Mediterranean Migration and Asylum Policy Hub (MedMA) aspires to build bridges between knowledge production, field work and policy-making. MedMA was established in 2022 as an Agency of the European Public Law Organization, an inter-governmental organization based in Athens, Greece, with offices and branches across the globe.

MedMA’s scope builds on three fundamental pillars:

The mapping of existing policy.
MedMA acts as an inclusive deliberation space where policymakers, academics, researchers, civil society representatives, advocates and other stakeholders can engage in a spirit of trust and confidence on existing migration and asylum policy, its successes, shortcomings, challenges and pitfalls.
The enabling of evidence-based policy-making.
MedMA serves as a data repository for Greece, collating publicly available statistics in a user-friendly manner. The statistical work will in the future encompass other Mediterranean States.
The production of novel policy recommendations.
MedMA engages in its own cutting-edge migration and asylum-related research with a focus on challenges prevalent in the Mediterranean region.

The MedMA team brings together expertise in academia, policy making at the highest level, public administration management and field work in migration and asylum. MedMA’s intergovernmental status and team composition can contribute to multidirectional feedback loops between researchers and practitioners. Website: www.med-ma.eu