The University of Gdańsk has joined the all-Poland agreement creating the Academic Expert Council for the Education and Integration of Migrants and Refugees. The UG’s advanced research into migration will provide a valuable contribution to the Council’s activity.

The University of Gdańsk has joined the all-Poland agreement creating the Academic Expert Council for the Education and Integration of Migrants and Refugees.

The appointment of the Expert Council is a result of the growing need to provide the highest quality education to students of courses with a teaching specialisation and those pursuing courses in Pedagogy, Psychology or Social Studies with regard to the education and integration of migrants and refugees.

At present the issue of migration and the related phenomena of immigrant integration with host communities is a dynamically developing area of research and new education practice. In the field of education these issues concern the presence of migrant pupils in Polish schools as well as the functioning of Polish children in foreign educational systems and the education of remigrant pupils. 

Various academic centres can boast diverse experience in the implementation of research, education programmes and projects with the participation of governmental, non-governmental and international partners. Cooperation as part of the agreement will allow all partners to have access to the research and recommendations and to employ them in the education of students. This will be of particular interest to students of courses in Pedagogy, Teaching and Social Studies who in their professional work may tackle the issues of educating pupils who have experienced migration or the socio-cultural integration of immigrants in Polish society.

The University of Gdańsk can boast advanced research and education with regard to migration and can contribute its experience into the national cooperation in the areas of:  

• research into contemporary Polish migration,
• teaching of the Polish language to foreigners,
• intercultural psychology,
• education of pupils who have experienced migration,
• culturally adjusted social work,
• activities aimed at the internationalisation of universities.

The University of Gdańsk will be represented in the Expert Council by Dr Dorota Jaworska from the Division of Social Pedagogy.