Summer Program on Forced Migration and Borders 2024

Building upon the success of its inaugural program last year, CFD held its second annual Summer Program on Forced Migration and Borders from May 26 to June 8, 2024 at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Political Science in Belgrade, Serbia. The program, co-organized and co-facilitated by CFD researchers and partners at the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Belgrade, brought together 18 students — half from BU and half from the University of Belgrade — for two weeks of intensive seminars on the evolving landscape of movement in a unique and geo-politically significant migration region.

Summer Program on Forced Migration and Borders in Belgrade, Serbia

Full Schedule

May 26 – June 8, 2024

Week 1

Day 1: May 27, 2024 – Introductions and Welcome (Room #5)

9.00 am – 9.30 am	Welcome Breakfast; Opening Remarks and Overview of the Program Teodora Jovanović, The Institute of Ethnography SASA Natalija Perišić, University of Belgrade Micah Trautmann, Boston University Center on Forced Displacement Selma Hedlund, Boston University Center on Forced Displacement
9.30 am – 10.30 am	Group Introductions and Activities
10.30 am – 11.00 am	Coffee Break
11.00 am – 12.30 pm	Session 1: Conversations about Migration Drivers Presenters Teodora Jovanović, The Institute of Ethnography SASA Micah Trautmann, Boston University Center on Forced Displacement
12.30 pm – 1.30 pm	Lunch and Informal Reflection Session with Micah and Selma
1.30 pm – 3.30 pm	Session 2: Serbia-EU Relations and their Implications Regarding Borders and Migration Presenters Marta Stojić Mitrović, The Institute of Ethnography SASA Mila Bajić, SHARE Foundation Moderator Teodora Jovanović, The Institute of Ethnography SASA

Day 2: May 28, 2024

9.00 am – 10.00am	Reflection Session: Migration Drivers and Border Externalization with Teodora and Micah
10.00am – 10.45am	Intro Conversation and the Overview of the Program Discussion leaders: Marina Lažetić, CFD and Natalija Perišić, FPN Opening remarks and overview of the program Going over basic terms and definitions
10.00 am – 10.30 am	Coffee Break
10.30 am – 12.00 pm	Session 1: Legal Pathways to Migration and Obstacles to Asylum Presenters Nikola Kovacevic, Center for Research and Social Development IDEAS Radoš Đurović, Asylum Protection Center
12.00 pm – 1.00 pm	Lunch and Informal Conversations
1.00 pm – 2.30 pm	Session 2: Informal Squats and the Situation in the Borderlands Presenters Gordana Vukasin, KlikAktiv Olja Nikolić Kia, Transbalkan Solidarity Moderator Selma Hedlund, Boston University Center on Forced Displacement
	Group Dinner at Dvoriste

Day 3: May 29, 2024

9.00 am – 10.00 am	Reflection Session: Legality of Movement and Borderlands Crisis with Micah
10.00 am – 11.00 am	Introduction to the Sensory Walk, a research exercise (led by Teodora)
11.00 am – 11.30 am	Coffee Break
11.30 am – 1.00 pm	Session 1: “Migration Crisis” and the Balkan Route – Government Response and Migrant Journeys Presenter Jelena Surlan, Area Coordinator, Commissariat for Refugees And Migration Moderator Teodora Jovanović, The Institute of Ethnography SASA
1.00 pm – 2.00 pm	Lunch and reflection session on government narratives and policies (led by Teodora and Natalija)
2.00 pm – 3.30 pm	Session 2: Criminalization of Migration and Solidarity – Smuggling and Rescue at Sea Presenters Saša Dragojlo, Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Stefan Pejović, Médecins Sans Frontières Moderator Micah Trautmann, Boston University Center on Forced Displacement
5.00 pm.	Activity: Sensory walk through Belgrade (Savamala area)

Day 4: May 30, 2024

9.00 am – 10.00 am	Reflection Session: Legality of Movement, Smuggling Networks, and Government Responses + Sensory Walk with Selma and Teodora
10.00 am – 10.30 am	Coffee Break
10.30 am – 12.00 pm	Session 1: Othering: Ethnic and Racial Minorities in the Migration System Presenters Dženet Koko, Roma Women’s Network Nađa Marković, A11 Initiative Marko Vasiljević, A11 Initiative Maja Marković, ADRA Laura Radešić, ADRA Moderator Jelena Birmančević, The Faculty of Philosophy Novi Sad
12.00 pm – 1.30 pm.	Lunch and Informal Conversations
1.30 pm – 3.00 pm	Session 2: Ethics of Engaged Research Presenters Jelena Ćuković, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade Maja Korać, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade Moderator Selma Hedlund, Boston University Center on Forced Displacement

Day 5: May 31, 2024

9.00 am – 10.00 am	Reflection Session: Othering, Race, and the Ethics of Engaged Research
10.00 am – 10.30 am	Coffee Break
10.30am – 12.00 pm	Session 1: Unaccompanied and Separated Minors on the Move Workshop Speakers Natalija Perišić, Full Professor, University of Belgrade – Faculty of Political Science Violeta Marković, Teaching Assistant in Social Work, University of Belgrade Maja Negrojević, Jesuit Refugee Service Serbia Filip Micić, Jesuit Refugee Service Serbia
12.00 pm – 1.00 pm	Lunch and Informal Conversations
1.30 pm – 3.00 pm	Session 2: Gender, Race, and Safety on the Move Presenters Lidija Djordjević, NGO Atina Members of the Advocacy Leaders group Moderator Natalija Perišić, Full Professor, University of Belgrade – Faculty of Political Science

Day 6: June 1, 2024 – Free day in Belgrade with optional group activities

3.00 pm – 5.00 pm Visit to the Museum of Yugoslavia (optional)
8.00 pm – 10.00 pm Silosi (optional)

Day 7: June 2, 2024

11.00 am – 3.00 pm A day at Ada Lake
7.00 pm – 9.00pm Group dinner and reflections

Week 2

[Daily schedule determined in consultation with NGOs]

Description: This week is reserved for practical engagement with various NGOs that work with migrants and refugees in Serbia. Students will be divided into groups, with one program organizer accompanying them. Each group will “shadow” a different NGO during the week, engaging in the work assigned to them by the NGO in accordance with their needs and schedule. Student groups will be assigned to the NGOs by the program organizers, but individual interests and training will be taken into consideration.

Organizations that students will be assigned to work with:

KlikAktiv
Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)
ADRA Serbia
Atina
IDEAS

Day 13: Saturday, June 8 – Group Presentations

9:00 am – 10:15 am Group presentations
10:15 am – 10:45 am Coffee Break
10:45 am – 12:00 pm Group presentations (ctd).
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch and closing remarks

Description: At the end of the week, students will present on core themes encountered during their NGO-shadowing experience. Presentations should include information on the NGO, reflections on their activities, as well as critical, theoretical and/or ethical considerations that emerged during the shadowing experience. Presentations should aim to be 10-15 minutes in length.