The main goal of the project "Understanding Migrant Realities: Research-led Teaching about Migrations in Diversifying Societies” (MIGRAEDU) is to strengthen the educational and research capacity of Civitas University (CU) and the Research Institute for Quality of Life of the Romanian Academy of Sciences (ICCV). This goal will be achieved by enhancing the teaching and research competencies of the staff at both institutions, conducting joint research, and involving students in academic activities. The project integrates scientific research with teaching, and its primary outcome is the creation of educational materials based on the latest research findings. An essential element of the project is addressing the needs of stakeholders (students and academics), positioning it as a potential model for a research-education initiative with a real impact on society.
Key activities within the project include:
Development of modern e-learning educational materials and engaging students in their evaluation
The e-learning materials, based on migration research findings, will consist of 15 educational units corresponding to a 30-hour course. The topics covered will include refugee assistance, research methods, and ethical issues related to conducting research on groups with specific needs. These materials will be used in teaching at CU and in the doctoral program at ICCV. They will be designed in a format that allows for transfer to various e-learning platforms.
Students will be involved in the preparation process, gaining insight into the concept of the materials and testing the completed modules. They will then provide feedback and suggestions during focus group discussions. The conclusions from this research will be used to improve the e-learning course.
Training for the project team and academic staff of CU and ICCV
Two types of training sessions are planned within the project:
- Training on creating research-led e-learning materials
This series of workshops will cover a wide range of topics, such as designing e-learning materials, creating interactive content, e-learning methodology, using scientific research in educational materials, copyright issues, progress assessment and student motivation, innovations, and evaluation of materials. - Training on ethical aspects of research
These sessions are targeted at researchers and focus on the ethical aspects of research involving vulnerable groups and the storage and sharing of research data obtained from such groups.
Conducting research in collaboration with the ICCV research institute
The research component of the project focuses on Ukrainian refugees with specific needs (including people with disabilities) and their experiences with the support and integration they receive in Warsaw and Bucharest. The aim is to understand how refugees perceive the assistance provided by service providers and the challenges they face in this area. This study continues previous research conducted under the UNRF project. The methodology includes desk research, focus group discussions, and in-depth individual interviews (conducted in the native language of the respondents). Collected data will be translated, coded, and analyzed.
Students from CU and doctoral candidates from ICCV will participate in the research process, supporting researchers at all stages and participating in study visits in both cities.
This research is crucial for developing public policies and support programs that address the needs of people with disabilities. The outcomes will include a report and two open-access scientific articles. Additionally, the research findings will be incorporated into the e-learning materials. The results will also be presented at a conference planned at the end of the project.
The MIGRAEDU project stands out due to its comprehensive approach to migration in academic teaching. It goes beyond conducting scientific research by actively applying research findings in the teaching process. This approach, known as Research Led Teaching, ensures that students have access to the latest knowledge and analyses, enhancing their competencies. An important aspect of the project is the empowerment of students as key actors in the educational process.
