Winter School 2024

BROAD-ER Project

The EU-funded Twinning Project BROAD-ER aims for strategic networking and collaboration in the themes of the internationalization of cities, their autonomy-building processes, and the detachment of local and national actors involved in the governance of these processes in general and those in the field of international migration in particular. In a series of specialized training programs, the project aims to address the specific theoretical and methodological challenges that come with that. Earlier, in our Summer School (held earlier this year in Istanbul) we discussed possible theoretical implications. The current Winter School, to be held in January 2024 in Amsterdam, addresses the question to what extent the nexus of urban and migration studies requires specific methods. Which specific sensitivities or pitfalls are we dealing with?

Short outline

The Winter School 2024 offers a one-week dynamic and interactive on-campus learning experience, addressing aspects of the social-scientific study of urban and migration studies combined. The course is tailored for graduate students, PhD candidates, post-docs and other early career researchers seeking to develop such research skills. It is limited to a maximum of 20-25 participants, allowing the instructors to provide personalized attention to everyone.

Purpose of the Winter School

By the end of the Winter School, participants will:

• – have learned the conceptual and practical tools necessary for designing and carrying out research in their PhD or post-doc research projects.
• – understand how to use appropriate research methods within that research process;
• – appreciate the ethical, political and practical challenges involved.

The interactive sessions allow participants to share knowledge with other researchers, providing space to generate new ideas and solutions. Between each session, there will be additional tasks for both individuals and groups.

Prior to the course, participants will be asked to think of a methodological challenge in their research project. Over the week, they will explore this question and apply the lessons learned in their own project.

Format

The main objective of BROAD-ER Winter School is to encourage collective experience for early career scholars to work in the field of international urban migration. The program includes one week of lectures and discussions led by distinguished international faculty members and experts working on the crossroads of these two subfields. The participants will have the chance of sharing their research ideas and methods with these scholars in an interactive environment. The language of instruction is English. A certificate will be provided upon successful completion of the program. Additional requirements including an academic presentation and the submission of an original research paper of 6,000 words max. will be imposed on those participants who are seeking course credits (3 ECTS).

The Winter School is on-site only.

Draft Program

Sunday January 28, 2024

• Welcome drinks

Monday January 29, 2024

• Introduction (Expectations, format, housekeeping rules, roles of students, etc) by Prof. Jan Rath, University of Amsterdam
• On the BROAD-ER program, tbc
• The nexus of urban and migration studies: general methodological challenges by Prof. Suzi Hall, London School of Economics

Tuesday January 30, 2024

• Conceptual thinking and multiscalar analysis by Prof. Ricard Zapata, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
• Studying migration beyond the Metropolis and studying cities beyond migration by Dr. Norma Schemschat, University of Amsterdam & Dr. Rafik Arfaoui, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona

Wednesday January 31, 2024

• Mapping by Dr. Maddy Thomson, Urban Foresight, Newcastle upon Tyne
• Studying the unknown: undocumented migrants in the city by Prof. Richard Staring, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Thursday February 1, 2024

• Digital social sciences by Justus Uitermark, University of Amsterdam
• Ethical issues by Marleen Rademaker, AISSR ethics advisor, University of Amsterdam

Friday February 2, 2024

• Public space by (tbc)
• Title to be confirmed by Phil Kasinitz, City University of New York
• Farewell dinner and drinks

Location: Malaysian Restaurant Wau, Zeedijk 35, Amsterdam (tbc)

Each day, as number of students will be asked to give a short presentation in which they reflect on their methods.

Optional

Saturday February 3, 2024

• Field trip to Rotterdam, notably Afrikaanderwijk and Hillesluis, two low-income immigrant neighborhoods that are currently being transformed (c.q. gentrified into middle-class neighborhoods. (Jan Rath, University of Amsterdam). The fieldtrip will start 10:30am sharp in front of Rotterdam Central Station, and will last the entire day.

Keynote speakers and guest lecturers include, amongst others, Suzi Hall (LSE), Justus Uitermark (UvA), Ricard Zapata (UPF), Maddy Thomson (Urban Fortsight), Rafik Arfaoui (UPF), Norma Schemschat (UvA), Jan Rath (UvA), and others.

Eligibility

This program is designed for graduate students and PhD candidates, postdocs and other early career researchers as well as junior experts in the field. BROAD-ER’s international Winter School does not only offer expanding the knowledge of its participants, but also promises networking opportunities between them and distinguished faculty to enhance both parties’ research agendas. Applications from all over the world are encouraged.

The eligibility criteria are:

• – A relevant degree or equivalent experience in the field of urban migration studies;
• – An excellent working knowledge (speaking and writing) of English

Tuition

The fee for the program is 150 euro. The fee covers course materials, fieldtrips, coffee, tea and other beverages, and lunches on lecture days.

Tuition fee for the students affiliated with institutions from the IMISCOE network will be reduced by 30%.

Participation is only secured when the registration is paid in full.

Scholarships

A limited number of (partial) scholarships will be available for selected candidates from low & middle income countries.[1] Applicants who wish to apply for a scholarship should indicate their intention in their motivation letter with a short statement about their financial constraints. Please note that this is a non-profit program and the scholarships will be granted based on the availability of funds upon the completion of the application round. Scholarships are not intended for participants who can be funded by their own institutions. It would be appreciated if the applicants can reflect on the unavailability of funds through their institution.

Travel and accommodation

All participants (excluding those who are awarded a scholarship) are kindly requested to organize their own travel and accommodation and to cover the expenses for their travel to and from Amsterdam, their local transportation, and their accommodation.

Participants are responsible to secure their own entry visa for the Netherlands, if needed. It is strongly recommended that interested participants apply for visas as early as possible. Participants do not need to wait for their registration confirmation letter from us to make an appointment for visa application, but they will need to provide a legitimate letter of representation from their organization. responsible for their own visa application, if applicable. If accepted to the Winter School, the BROAD-ER Winter School Team will provide a formal letter of acceptance upon request. Such a letter can be used during the visa application

How to apply?

Please click here to download the application form and send the following documents as a single pdf file and no later than December 1, 2023, 00:00 (UTC+1) to [email protected]:

1. A current résumé;
2. BA, MA or PhD Diploma
3. Proof of English (i.e. TOEFL and/or IELTS scores);
4. Current doctoral/academic program including:
   1. Affiliation;
   2. main area(s) of studies;
   3. name(s) of supervisor(s);
   4. stage of the PhD/postdoc work;
5. Summary of the dissertation or of on-going research project (no more than 250 words), including:
   1. the title
   2. a precise research question;
   3. the theoretical argument;
   4. research methods and empirical research design;
   5. and preliminary findings, and references.
6. A one-page letter of reference written by the employer or a full professor;
7. Sample of written work: published or unpublished article, book chapter, thesis chapter and/or report preferably on a related urban migration topic;
8. A statement of purpose/letter of motivation, including a paragraph on the expected benefits of this Winter School and a note on specific developmental needs (e.g., publishing, reviewing, collaborative research, career issues, etc.). If you will be applying for a scholarship, describe the financial needs.

Important dates

• – Application Deadline: December 1, 2023 (00:00 UCT+1)
• – Announcement of application results: no later than December 15, 2023
• – Deadline for confirmation of participation: January 5, 2024
• – Dates Winter School January 29-February 02, 2024

Should you have any further queries, check out our webpage on https://broad-er.eu/workshop/winter-school-2024/ or contact the BROAD-ER Winter School Team: Prof. Dr. Jan Rath ([email protected]) or Dr. Norma Schemschat ([email protected]).

For more details about BROAD-ER program, visit https://broad-er.eu/

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[1]           Based on World Bank Data: https://data.worldbank.org/income-level/low-and-middle-income?view=chart