2020-2021 / SOCI2264-1

New Migrants, Policies and Networks

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Master in sociology, professional focus in Immigration Studies (Barcelone - Liège : double diplomation)6 crédits 
 Master in sociology (120 ECTS)6 crédits 
 Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...) (Faculté des Sciences sociales)6 crédits 

Lecturer

Marco Martiniello

Substitute(s)

Alessandro Mazzola

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

New Migrants, Policies and Networks broadly focuses on the integration and socialisation of new migrants in their context of settlement. Central themes in the course are the establishment and functioning of offline and online social networks and communities in the life of contemporary migrants, and the relationship between these networks and communities, and the policy system within which they exist. The migrant populations concerned will not only include vulnerable migrants such as refugees and asylum seekers or ethnicised and racialised minorities, but also EU national minorities or highly skilled migrants. The case studies that will be presented and discussed mainly include:
-historical and contemporary migrant communities;
-institutional organisations in countries of settlement;
-civil society networks involving refugees and asylum seekers.
All these cases will be observed and critically discussed in both their offline and online articulation, involving notions of social media analysis, webography and online ethnography.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The course aims at providing students with a critical introduction, from a sociological point of view, of the role and functioninf of migrant social networks, and on how they relate with the institutional structures and policy system within which they exist.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to critically discuss the way migrants form communities and networks involving co-nationals, migrants and non-migrants, and the role of these in their integration. Students will also be instructed on how to approach social media analysis, webography and online ethnography in migration studies.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

A good command of oral and written English is required.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is structured around weekly discussions of scientific and press articles, current national and international debates on social media, and the specific communication of migrant networks and communities. Each session focuses on one particular topic, and an active engagement of students is required.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face lecture sessions. Attendance is mandatory (min. 80%). Depending on the number of students enrolled, the course structure and the number of face-to-face sessions may be subject to change. Below 5 students, individual tutoring methods may be adopted at the teacher's discretion.

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

Should restrictions be placed on face-to-face activity due to Covid-19 containment measures, tuition will be totally or partially switched online. Assessment methods and criteria will remain unchanged.

Recommended or required readings

Any readings or other instructional tool will be posted on MyULg.

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Students will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Attendance and class participation (30%)
Students are required to attend and actively participate to all class sessions. This may include taking part to informed exchanges, asking questions, critically discussing the assigned literature. Attendance is mandatory. A minimum attendance of 80 per cent is mandatory. Students who@ medical reasons
  • Final short article (50%)
Students will have to draft ashort article based on one of the topics discussed in the class sessions (minimum 8,000 characters including references; due BEFORE the last class session). 
  • Individual presentation (20%)
Students will have to deliver a presentation of their short article and answer questions during the last class session.

Work placement(s)

N.A.

Organizational remarks

Please follow any direction on MyULg.

Contacts

  • Alessandro Mazzola  a.mazzola@uliege.be
    Lecturer in Sociology, Université de Liège / Research Fellow, London Guildhall School