Course description

Now in its fourth edition, the Migration Winter Academy (1-5 February 2027) offers a unique platform for participants to engage with cutting-edge research and debate pressing issues related to migration communication.

Specific attention will be paid to the use of original public opinion data, misinformation, processes of sense-making, the role of emotions and values in communicating to different audiences, and the design of original communication initiatives that can effectively appeal to the public and build support for more effective governance.

Participants will benefit from access to the European University Institute’s world-class research facilities, including its renowned Library, while networking with a diverse group of peers and professionals from around the world: postgraduate researchers, civil servants, international organisation officials, NGO and civil society representatives, journalists, policy analysts, and experts from the private sector.

The Winter Academy will address a wide range of key themes at the intersection of public attitudes, media narratives and public debates around migration, including:  

• Public attitudes and political discourse on migration, including asylum and refugee protection, labour migration, and access to welfare
• Narrative and storytelling in migration politics
• Perceptions of policy-makers in the field of migration and asylum protection
• The use of emotions and values in communication strategies
• Disinformation, misinformation, and contested facts around migration
• Communication of research evidence and uncertainty
• Policy communication of migration
• Evaluation of “what works” in migration communication
• From research to practice: designing evidence-informed campaigns, testing messages, handling media interviews, and communicating during politically sensitive events.

Who should attend

• Policy analysts
• Private sector professionals
• International organisation officials
• Civil servants
• NGO and civil society representatives
• Postgraduate researchers and academics
• Journalists
• Practitioners

Participation modes

This residential programme will take place in Florence on 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 February 2027. Registrants who are selected will be expected to be present on the EUI campus in Florence, Italy, on the days of the training.

Information for applicants

Successful applications to the Migration Winter Academy will satisfy the following criteria:

- A relevant Master’s degree or equivalent experience;

- A strong professional and/or research background in international migration;

- An excellent working knowledge (speaking and writing) of English;

- The availability to attend the entire teaching sessions of the programme.

The Migration Policy Centre prepares for selected applicants a visa invitation letter that can be used for the visa application. 

All participants are requested to organise and cover expenses for their travel to and from Florence, as well as their local transportation in Florence and accommodation.

Applications will no longer be accepted after 23:59 on 31 October. Please ensure your submission is completed by then.

 

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships is available for applicants who demonstrate a strong interest in migration policy and have the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the field. Applicants should meet the following criteria:

• PhD students or early career academics, early- or mid-career professionals (e.g. in politics, civil service, media and non-governmental organisations), able to demonstrate both professional experience and potential for future excellence in the policy sphere;

• Genuinely engaged individuals involved in policy issues related to migration, either through enrollment in a PhD programme or through substantial demonstration of relevant career experience;

• Self-motivated individuals who can clearly explain why they wish to participate in the Winter School and how they would benefit from it;

• Candidates must be born and currently living in low-income and lower-middle-income economies ;

• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Scholarships are meant to partially cover travel and accommodation costs (hotel and flight tickets will be requested as supporting documentation for the reimbursement).

Applicants with lived experience of displacement are particularly encouraged to apply.

Please note that any candidate who applies for a scholarship and is unsuccessful will not be considered for a fee-paying place at the school. Scholarship recipients are not intended for participants who can be funded by their own institutions. 

Learning methods

This five-day programme adopts a problem-oriented approach designed to foster critical engagement for junior to mid-career professionals working in the field. Through a combination of expert-led sessions, discussions, and case study work, participants will discuss how to communicate effectively around one of the most controversial topics in contemporary politics.