2024

The final edition of the Refugee and Migration Studies Summer School took place in July 2024, concluding the three-year memorandum of understanding with the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University. All three editions have provided an unparalleled platform for students, academics and practitioners to confront and engage with pressing migration and refugee issues. This year’s program continued its tradition of blending academic rigor with hands-on experiences, offering students opportunities ranging from field simulations of humanitarian responses to discussions with key officials, including members of the Greek Ministry for Migration.

Fourteen students from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, as well as other European and U.S. universities, along with sixteen Harvard graduate students and professionals in the field, benefited from lectures and workshops delivered by over 40 experts, including international lawyers, migration specialists, journalists, and public health practitioners. In addition to the academic sessions, participants visited refugee reception and identification centers in Athens and Lesvos, refugee womens' shelter, and more than 20 NGOs working on the frontlines of migration crises, gaining critical insights into the challenges faced by displaced populations.

The 2024 program welcomed once again one brilliant refugee participant and several students from refugee and migration backgrounds, continuing the Hub’s commitment to expanding access to education for those most affected by displacement.

As the final year, the 2024 Summer School marked the culmination of three years of impactful dialogue, learning, and collaboration. The program leaves behind a legacy of fostering understanding, building networks, and advancing education on migration and refugee issues.

You can meet the 2024 Cohort here and

our speakers for 2024 here.

Feedback from our participants:

“What I liked the most about this course was the opportunity to get hands-on experience from the visits to the camps, the meeting with local fishermen, with NGOs and authorities, like the former minister of migration of Greece.”

“The aspect of this course that I valued the most was listening to a variety of stakeholders and private citizens, including refugees, to not only hear their perspective but to begin to challenge the dominant and often unreliable more macro level narrative”

“The cultural/social activities were valuable aspects of the program, as they significantly contributed to community building among participants. These experiences provided a deeper understanding of Greece, one of the main transit countries for immigration in Europe. They offered an immersive way to learn about the local culture, history, and the socio-political context surrounding migration issues. Additionally, these activities fostered stronger connections among participants, creating a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.”

“The visits to the camps and meetings with locals were by far the most impactful parts of this course, for me. These are things I wouldn't have access to normally, and I'm grateful that the course gave me this exposure.”