The module covers political, economic, social, cultural, familial, intimate, and subjective aspects of migration within domestic, European, and global contexts, as well as critically examining migration from a social perspective. Each subject in the module can be linked to other subjects in the same module and to subjects in other modules at the ZRC SAZU School of Social Sciences. The subjects focus on the social science aspects of migration, historical knowledge of migration in Slovenia and Slovenian diasporas, qualitative and ethical aspects of migration research, labour migration and transnational social protection of migrants, cultural and educational dimensions of migration processes, emotional and gender dimensions of migration, and migrant struggles and critical civic studies. Special attention is paid to the diverse practices of migrants in the past and present. The focus is on the autonomous practices and decisions of migrants in a wide variety of circumstances, which requires a special approach, fieldwork, the search for relevant ego documents, and participatory research.

The module’s syllabus and content focus on individual scientific disciplines and discourses as well as on the immediate problems and challenges of contemporary migration. These problems and challenges require an in-depth understanding of the complex aspects and dynamics of migration processes at various levels, as well as a combination of theoretical study and practical field training. The module is designed to familiarize students with the complexity of migration beyond the everyday discourse of political simplifications and ideologically biased interpretations. Methodologically, the module presents both qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches and in-depth analyses of migration trends and policies.

An in-depth study of migration processes and dynamics from a contemporary and historical perspective is enabled by: the interdisciplinary design of the module and the integration of different scientific fields and methodologies; practical and problem-oriented courses based on numerous research projects conducted by lecturers at the Slovenian Migration Institute ZRC SAZU; conceptual, theoretical, and methodological adaptation to contemporary scientific, research, and pedagogical trends, as all lecturers have been involved in international networks of scientific, research, and pedagogical activities for many years.

The module is an opportunity for all future students/researchers who wish to independently identify past and contemporary migration phenomena, approach their analysis in a problem-oriented and critical manner, and comprehensively investigate them using appropriate methodological and epistemological approaches. The module encourages students to actively consider critical arguments to find answers to the migration challenges of the times we live in. The topicality of the selected subject content in the module provides relevant knowledge for future doctors of science at all levels, where migration and other related policies are formulated based on analysis and research. Career development is possible in various subsystems in governmental, non-governmental, economic, scientific-research, cultural-artistic, and educational institutions and organizations.

The module invites students to consider who migrants are and how departures and arrivals shape the society to which people immigrate, as well as the societies from which they emigrate. It enables reflection on one’s participation in a society that is colourful, diverse, multilingual, multi-religious, and multi-ethnic, on the path from a multicultural to an intercultural society. It is based on theoretical knowledge and practical experience, the life stories of immigrants and emigrants, and the objective and subjective reasons for migration, which are often intertwined. It offers an exploration of one’s own and others’ migrations and shows that migration has always existed, exists now, and will continue to exist. No wall or barbed wire can prevent it, but the extent to which migrants can contribute to the development of society with their knowledge and experience depends largely on the inclusive or exclusive policies discussed in the module.