Call for Applications for the 8th International Postgrad Summer School in Lesbos, Greece

Deadline: 15 April 2019
Open to: participants from around the world
Venue: 2 – 11 July 2019 in Lesbos, Greece

Description

For the eighth year the Department of Social Anthropology and History of the University of the Aegean and the Institute of Migration and Ethnic Studies of the Universityof Amsterdam welcome applications for the Postgraduate International Summer School ‘CULTURES, MIGRATIONS, BORDERS’ that will take place on the border island of LESVOS, GREECE, from 2 to 11 JULY 2019.

The broader socioeconomic and political transformations in Africa and Asia have recently resulted in increased migration flows to Greece and, more generally, to Europe. Being at the crossroads of populations and cultures the islands of Eastern Aegean have served as one of the entry “gates” to Europe. In this context, and especially in connection to the current crisis, border crossings have become the focus of intense debates as they are intertwined with issues of culture and identity formation, the European Union and state policy, and constructions of ‘otherness’. By drawing on an increasing interest in the study of cultures, migrations and borders, our Summer School examines how migrations shape and are shaped by processes of boundary formation in a variety of cultural encounters.

The North Eastern Aegean island of LESVOS provides an ideal location for holding this Summer School, as it is currently one of the more important gates of immigrants and refugees to Greece and Europe and the site of a massive humanitarian intervention. The Summer School takes place as the ‘European Refugee Crisis’ goes on taking new forms and in times of radical transformations and the reconfiguration of borders in national and international levels. The program aims to address political, ethical and theoretical questions in this challenging landscape.

The program of the course is structured around five thematic axes:

Theoretical and methodological issues in the study of migration and borders.
Institutional and political aspects of the migratory condition.
People on the move: immigrant groups, refugees and host communities.
Cross-cultural encounters across borders and interactions of host/immigrant on the border.
The politics of humanitarian aid and the ‘refugee crisis’.

Along with the seminars, the program includes some further activities. The participants will be given the opportunity to interact with citizens on the island assisting refugees and meet asylum seekers. A fieldtrip to Mytilene is organized for this purpose as well as some activities in Plomari. While acquainting themselves with the reality of migration on an Aegean island, participants will develop research skills and learn how to place their findings within wider local and global processes. Doctoral students and researchers will also have the opportunity to present their work at the PhD/Reseach Seminars. The Summer School includes the public screening of films on migration and border-crossing as well as it offers a variety of social and leisure activities.

A certificate of attendance will be awarded to all participants.

Eligibility

Postgraduate students with a background in the social sciences, PhD candidates and researchers, undergraduates at their final year of studies and professionals working at NGOs or other institutions are all eligible to apply. We encourage you to apply if you are interested in the theme of migration. The selection will depend on the evaluation of the applicant’s academic profile and motivation.

Cost & Scholarship

The Summer School fees are €500. Accommodation, food and transportation costs are not included but can be obtained at relatively low prices. The travel cost for the fieldtrip to Mytilene plus a welcome reception dinner and everyday coffee-breaks are included in the fees.

There will be several scholarships available for the participants of the Summer School. Applicants who get the scholarship grant have to pay a reduced fee of €200. In reference to what is included in the fees you may see the previous question which concerns all participants.
In order to apply for a scholarship you have to:

First, fill in and submit the registration form for the Summer School. (In the last field ‘Any additional info’ please mention that you intend to appply for a scholarship).
Secondly, fill in an online scolarship application form which will soon be available. In there, you have to submit your motivation letter where you will explain the reasons why you are interested to apply for a ascholarship.
A reference letter is also required, but this should be sent separately by email to migbord2019@aegean.gr directly by your supervisor/professor. The reference letter should be sent till 15 April 2019, at the latest.

The selection will be based on the applicant’s academic performance and motivation but priority will be given to:

applicants coming from Eastern European, Asian and African countries &
those with a non-professional status.

Application

Submitting a paper is optional but you should bear in mind that if you are interested to apply for a scholarshipit it would enhance the profile of your application. You can submit any article, essay, paper etc, related to the main research and the theoretical topic of the Summer School (meaning migrations, cultures, borders).

In the following links you can find more information about visa applications and a list of the countries for which a visa is/is not required when travelling to Greece:

In order to apply for a visa we can give you a Summer School acceptance letter once you have registered to the course.

In order to apply, register HERE.

If you have any questions, check the FAQ section or please write to: