A new specialization in Global Migration & Refugee Studies will have Trent University students immersed in community-based research and driving projects that focus on newcomer integration in Canada, while also embarking upon international field courses in Ghana, Turkey and Ecuador.

The specialization will allow students in Trent’s sector-leading International Development Studies program to gain hands-on experience through community-based research and study abroad opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of cross-border population movements, the causes and impact of displacement and forced migration, migrant experiences, human rights work, governance, settlement, and citizenship – both in Canada and around the world.

“Migration studies is of critical and increasing importance across the globe and we are excited to offer students this new opportunity,” says Dr. Chris Beyers, professor and chair of Trent’s International Development Studies Department. “As home to one of the longest running International Development Studies programs in Canada, Trent is well-positioned to offer rigorous programming on the topics of immigration and forced migration, with several faculty members conducting
cutting-edge research in this field.”

One such researcher is Dr. Feyzi Baban, who has been working on two five-year projects with his colleague, Dr. Kim Rygiel, of Wilfrid Laurier University. With funding through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the projects are focused on citizens' movements, facilitating openness and living together with newcomers in different communities in Germany, Italy, Denmark and Turkey.

“Our research highlights the critical role that civil society initiatives play in providing alternative sites and forms of exchange that break down boundaries between newcomers and locals,” explains Professor Baban, whose new book, The Precarious Lives of Syrians (co-authored with Dr. Rygiel), will be published this fall.

Gain a global perspective through community placements

At Trent, International Development Studies students consider vital questions on migration issues including: what are the causes of large-scale involuntary displacement within and across borders? Why do countries and communities have different attitudes towards immigrants and refugees? Which mechanisms for protecting the human rights and bolstering the opportunities of migrants and refugees are most effective?

Gaining hands-on experience will be a key component of the new specialization. As part of their undergraduate coursework, students will complete a community-based research project in partnership with migrant-focused community organizations in Peterborough and Haliburton. Students will have the opportunity to work with newcomers to Canada, and study how newcomers settle into a new social environment.

Students will also have the opportunity to explore migration from a global perspective through the IDS department’s existing Trent-in-Ghana Program, which combines third-year level university course work with valuable hands-on experience through a 10 to12 week community placement. There will also be opportunities to complete field courses in Turkey or Ecuador in the future.

A distinctly Trent experience

Trent is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach to teaching, and the Global Migration & Refugee Studies Specialization will be no exception. Courses draw from the University’s expertise in the fields of political science, anthropology, sociology, social work, and economics to ensure a well-rounded educational experience for students.

“Trent presents prospective students in the field of migration studies with a unique opportunity,” says Professor Beyers, who conducts research on Venezuelan and Colombian migration in Latin America. “Here they can explore issues around migration in a small community setting, while working alongside experts in the field. Our program draws a high caliber of students who often go on to complete post-graduate studies, both here and abroad.”

Applications remain open for Trent’s International Development Studies program for fall 2021. Apply today.