Tunisia - Focusing on "Challenges and Opportunities of Migration in the Tunisian Context," the first Summer School on Migration was launched this week and will continue until 19 September. 

The organization of this multidisciplinary Summer School falls within the framework of the "Education, training and knowledge sharing on migration in Tunisia" project, financed through the IOM Development Fund and implemented jointly by IOM and INTES.  

Fifty participants selected by a scientific committee will benefit from a program of lectures, workshops and interactive training modules provided by national and international experts, researchers and representatives of public institutions and international organizations.    

The first day focused on migration concepts, context and governance; the second day on the importance of statistics and data on migration; followed by rights and mobility, protection of migrants, and Friday and Saturday will be dedicated to Migration and Development.

Participants were selected among students carrying out their Post Graduate Studies, Civil Servants, representatives of civil societies organizations as well as journalists.

In his opening remarks, HE Belgacem Sabri, Secretary of State in charge of Immigration and Social Integration, stated that “the migration crisis in the Mediterranean cannot be solved nor can we stop the tragedies unless we study the root causes and build a bridge for dialogue and cooperation between the countries of departures and host countries.”

The Summer School provides an excellent occasion to gather together experts and participants from both sides of the Mediterranean, interested to exchange on migration issues, allowing a variety of discussions and presenting challenges and opportunities that go beyond national borders and that at this current time are on the top of many debates in Europe and beyond. 

One more objective of the Summer School is to promote and encourage research in the field of migration. To this end, five post graduate students among those attending the Summer School and interested to carry out their research on migration will be provided a scholarship to complete their research. 

According to Lorena Lando, IOM's Chief of Mission in Tunisia, "the Summer School on Migration is an initiative that we wish to see continue in the long term, in order to promote awareness on this crucial matter for the future of our societies and our economies, as demonstrated by the current events.”

For those who could not attend, the work of the Summer School will be fully available in texts and videos on the website www.ecole-ete-migration.tn