Duration
30h SEM
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This course seeks to introduce students to the study of the articulation between international migratory movements and processes of development. The course takes on a multidisciplinary approach and aims to allow students to be familiar with the diversity in approaches to the subject. This course is taught in English.
The course comprises two types of sessions. The first is a series of lectures and discussions about the main international migration theories and concepts of the migration and development nexus, remittances, transnationalism, migration and development governance and diaspora studies. The second consists of various thematic sessions presenting case studies and introducing students to current and innovative academic research in the field. Thanks to presentations from both scholars and practitioners, these thematic sessions address a wide range of topics, including migrant-led international solidarity organisations and mobilisations, impacts on the health and social sectors, multi-level governance, social impacts of refugee programmes in the Global North, gender issues, etc.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The course objective is to allow students to get greater familiarity with the different approaches to migration and development issues. Students will be able to develop their own reflections on these issues in ways that are both theoretically and empirically grounded.
More precisely, at the end of the course students should be able to:
- Identify and discuss migration drivers and migration impacts on sending and receiving societies
- Understand and critically discuss academic reference papers on migration and development.
- Use the scientific and empirical evidence provided during the course in debates on immigration.
- Understand the multi-level political and institutional framework governing social practices at the intersection of migration and development
- Critically evaluate discourses and policies on migration and development
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
The course is taught in English; therefore, a good knowledge of English is required in order to understand the required readings, audio-visual aids and sessions. The ability to read, understand and synthesise academic articles is also required.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
- Classroom teaching/attendance is required unless stipulated otherwise.
- Most courses are based on readings (the list of readings and texts are available online)
- All reading -exception when they are clearly indicated as "optional" are Obligatory readings that must be done by all students before the class
- Students who receive less than 6 ECTS for this course (eg. Erasmus students) should contact the teacher and he will indicate which readings they can skip.
- The written test is only based on the obligatory readings but it is alllowed for students to use what they read in the optional readings to respond to question if they find it relevant
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Students are expected to attend and actively participate in class sessions. Based on the availability of some external speakers, some sessions might exceptionally be given online.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
Before each class, students are asked to read compulsory readings, as well as optional readings. These are scientific texts on the topic that the class will cover. This reading is essential if the student is to participate actively in class. Readings and slides of each class will be available to students on the e-campus platform only. Readings will not be sent via email.
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Out-of-session test(s)
Further information:
1) Active participation in the lectures (20% of final grade)
This covers:
- Individual student oral presentation of 1 mandatory reading, outlining the main concept or idea defended in the article, and positioning them and their authors within the scientific landscape. Text distribution will be discussed during the first class. Students who would join the course late will be assigned one of the remaining texts by the professor.
- Active participation in discussions during lectures using arguments from previous lectures, course readings and the student's own experience and knowledge.
- Active engagement in discussions with guest experts during the second session of the course.
- Class attendance.
2) In-class mid-term written test (30% of final grade) DATE: 5 NOVEMBER 2025 9-11am
The mid-term test is a 90mn written test taken in class on 5/11/25 during class hours. The test concludes the first phase of the course. It will cover the main concepts presented during the first six sessions during lectures and in the readings. The test will consist of a series of questions. Students will not be authorized to use laptops nor paper copies, reading material or class notes to answer the test. The goal of the mid-term test is to encourage students to acquire the essential knowledge on migration and development concepts and approaches, to be able to critically engage in discussions on migration and development issues during the second part of the course (case studies with guest scholars and practitioners).
3) Final written exam (50% of final grade) DATE: January exam session. Precise date and time will be shared with students during the semester.
The final examination is a written exam taken at the University during the January exam session. Based on a text and/or a case presentation, students will be asked to answer a question in a structured and articulate manner, using both concepts and references studied during the first session and case studies and new knowledge presented during the second session. The aim of the final exam is to allow students to demonstrate their ability to develop critical thinking on migration and development issues and discourses.
In preparation for the final examination, the last class before the Winter break (Wednesday 17/12/2025) will be dedicated to revisions.
Second session (Resitting the exam):
In-class written exam similar to the final exam presented above (100% of the grade 20/20).
Work placement(s)
Not applicable
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Unless changes are communicated on CELCAT, the course is held in B31 Séminaire 8 - Salle Info (2/60) [Liège Sart-Tilman - Agora] on Wednesdays between 9 and 11AM.
Contacts
Course instructors are Pr Jean-Michel Lafleur (https://www.uliege.be/cms/c_9054334/en/directory?uid=u196664) and Dr Claire Vincent-Mory, CEDEM/ULiège
Association of one or more MOOCs
The MOOC entitled 'Migrations internationales : Comment les mobilités transforment les sociétés ? (H2)' is associated with this course.