4th edition of the Specialization Seminar in Migration and the Challenges of Integration

From 7 to 13 September, the Fundão's Migrations Center hosted the 4th edition of the Academia + Integração, organised in partnership with IPPS-Iscte and the University of Beira Interior – UBI.

This edition brought together 38 public administration workers and civil society organisations, with the aim of deepening knowledge on integration policies, active inclusion and cultural diversity.

Throughout an intensive week, participants had the opportunity to learn about local good practices in reception, engage with public and social entities in the region, and develop concrete team projects and proposals in a formative, intercultural and transformative experience.

This edition featured a comprehensive programme of training and debates on migration, integration and public policies, bringing together experts from Iscte, AIMA, UBI, local authorities, mediators and companies. The programme included modules on migration myths and facts, immigration law and policy, reception and integration, collaborative work between institutions, and the teaching of Portuguese to refugees.

Throughout the week, participants visited the Centre for Migrations, attended sessions with mediators and schools, and took part in several conferences at the Eugénio Andrade Library, with speakers such as Maria de Lurdes Rodrigues, Ana Paula Duarte, José Reis and Pedro Portugal Gaspar.

The programme also included a meeting with employers on the labour integration of migrants and concluded with the presentation of the collaborative projects developed, as well as a final conference on national and international perspectives on migration.

Academia + Integração promotes integration and values diversity, contributing to the construction of a more cohesive, supportive and inclusive society.

By: Beatriz Mouro