PO/ES/SP 363 - Equitable Living: Migration, Human Rights, and the City. A Global Pillars Course

IES ABROAD’S GLOBAL PILLARS – SUSTAINABLE LIVING, EQUITABLE LIVING, HUMAN WELL-BEING – INTEGRATE MOST OF THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG'S). THE GLOBAL PILLARS COURSES USE THE PILLARS AS A REFERENCE FRAMEWORK, ADOPT A PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING METHODOLOGY, AND BUILD A MULTIDISCIPLINARY LEARNING COMMUNITY. THIS COURSE FOCUSES ON THE EQUITABLE LIVING PILLAR. 

“Migration is an expression of the human aspiration for dignity, safety and a better future” – Ban Ki-Moon1 . 

There is a common perception that international migration is threatening due to the sheer number of immigrants as well as the financial impact or risk immigrants may pose to a nation’s ability to care for or sustain its citizens. However, according to the latest data, less than 4% of people move permanently from their country of origin and global remittances are over 700 billion dollars (UN, 2022). In simple terms, there are not only fewer migrants than common perception would lead one to believe but also, they are responsible for generating a tremendous amount of wealth. This gap in public perception and data presents an opportunity for a more nuanced and informed consideration of both contemporary and historical migration and their impact on local communities. In this course, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the intertwined relationships between human mobility, colonial histories, and urban spaces. Ultimately, our goal is to empower students to engage in meaningful reflections and actions towards fostering more just and equitable living conditions for all individuals. Through project-based learning, students will be able to apply global frameworks such as the SDGs and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to local challenges around migration through an interdisciplinary approach. Students will be asked to identify the most pressing challenges around migrant communities and human rights in their host city and apply methods and tools based on the current working methodology used by NGOs and other social entities. In this context, we will refer to the Right to the City concept which is central to debates about urban inequality, displacement, and who gets to belong in a rapidly urbanizing world. Working in small teams, students will develop an innovative project idea that can offer solutions to an identified challenge, considering the environmental, political, economic, historical and social characteristics of Berlin, their host city. Substantive field visits and connections with local stakeholders, such as grassroots initiatives, start-ups or public institutions, will allow students to gather valuable data and information as they develop their projects. Project-based learning will culminate in each team delivering a multimedia presentation to the group. Upon successful completion of this course, students will earn a micro-credential in Equitable Living and project development that will demonstrate their literacy around the topic and their ability to find innovative solutions to complex problems. (This course was previously taught as “Equitable Living: The Human Right to Migration”)