Some Examples of our Engagement with Universities
Academic Teaching and Thematic Sessions
Upon invitation, we deliver thematic sessions and specialist lectures within university programmes, bringing legal and practical perspectives into academic settings.
This includes, for example, a series of in-person sessions on statelessness developed in collaboration with UNHCR North Macedonia and delivered at South-East European University. Through interactive discussions and case-based learning, students explored the legal, institutional, and human dimensions of statelessness, supporting the gradual integration of these topics into existing curricula.
Our experts also contribute as guest lecturers at partner universities, addressing topics such as contemporary challenges in refugee protection, climate change and forced displacement, and international legal protection frameworks.
Curriculum Development and Academic Program Design
A core area of our engagement with universities is supporting the development, review, and strengthening of curricula on international protection.
With the support of UNHCR Nepal, we worked with Tribhuvan University to design refugee law curricula at both bachelor’s and master’s levels, covering foundational principles of international refugee law alongside emerging issues such as climate change. We also supported the integration of nationality and statelessness into public international law courses.
Similar curriculum-focused collaborations include:
- The development of a self-paced online course on the rights of refugees and stateless persons in international law with Maqsut Narikbayev University (Kazakhstan).
- Specialist courses on international refugee law delivered in partnership with the University of Belgrade (Serbia).
Academic Events, Conferences, and International Forums
We engage in academic conferences and international forums, contributing to scholarly debate and cross-regional exchange.
This includes participation in major academic congresses, such as the VII International Congress of International Environmental Law at the Catholic University of Santos in Brazil, which examined the links between climate change and forced displacement in a multilingual, international setting.
We also contribute regularly to guest lectures and academic events hosted by universities and research centres. Recent examples include the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Virtual Event coordinated by the UC Berkeley Criminal Law and Justice Center in the United States of America and a recurring session on Climate Change and Human Mobility at the International Christian University in Japan.
In parallel, we organize and support academic events with a strong practice-oriented focus, including international forums and capacity-building initiatives on complementary pathways for refugees, bringing together academic institutions, international organizations, and practitioners from different regions.
Academic Events, Conferences, and International Forums
Building on our own Summer School in Sanremo, we collaborate with universities to design and deliver summer schools and advanced training programmes on complex international issues.
One example is our contribution to the “Advanced Course on Mediation in International Conflicts” at the University of Genoa, where department experts led sessions on mediation, peacebuilding approaches, and the links between peace and sustainable development. These programmes combine academic depth with applied skills, enabling participants to engage critically with real-world challenges.
We have also supported international summer schools on refugee rights and migration in partnership with academic centres such as the Iustinianus Primus Law Faculty Refugee Law and Migration Center in North Macedonia.
Academic Networks and Long-Term Partnerships
Beyond individual activities, we engage in academic networks and initiatives that promote sustained collaboration between universities and protection actors. Our participation in initiatives such as the EUMIGSEC Jean Monnet Chair on Migration, UNHCR Academic Council meetings, and networks including GAIN and the De Mello Chair reflects our commitment to strengthening long-term links between academic research, teaching, and protection practice.
