Staff and students from King’s have participated in a unique training course in Italy, aiming to shape a more constructive and positive narrative in Europe around migration and refugees.

A group of students and staff from King’s, led by Dr Leonie Ansems de Vries (Department of War Studies), has participated in the first of a series of unique training events in Italy, as part of a project aiming to challenge the prevailing narrative of ‘crisis’ around migration in Europe through the development of knowledge and skills.

‘Analysing Refugee Inclusion in Southern Europe’ (ARISE) is an education and training project led by KAIROS (UK) and funded by Erasmus+. King’s is a partner in the ARISE consortium, via the Migration Research Group led by Dr Ansems de Vries.

ARISE aims to help participants across consortium partners to gain a greater understanding of the issues that affect migrants and refugees as they integrate into Europe. Four week-long training courses, which take place throughout 2018 and 2019, will explore a range of aspects relating to the inclusion of refugees in European societies, including the importance of language and issues concerning mental well-being, employment, education and faith.

Through participating in the training, staff and students from King’s, along with other consortium partners, gain professional skills for working with refugees and insights into the challenges and dilemmas faced by non-EU refugees; skills and knowledge which they can then bring back to London to share with the King’s community, refugee organisations and the wider public.

Isabella Pearce (MA International Conflict Studies, Department of War Studies), a participant in the first workshop, commented on the value of the training: "The multi-method learning provided a rich, interactive environment for the exchange of ideas. In particular, the field visits allowed the group to develop a more holistic understanding of local projects, successes and challenges around refugee inclusion in Southern Italy."

The Migration Research Group plans a workshop to share insights from the training with colleagues and students across King’s, including King’s societies working directly with refugees and through the Sanctuary programme. Applications for participation in ARISE training courses in 2019 will open towards the end of 2018.

Meanwhile, staff and students can visit the ‘Humans of Calais’ and ‘We are in Between’ photographic exhibitions, documenting the daily life of forced migrants in Calais and Dunkirk, in The Exchange, Bush House North East Wing, until Monday 18 June.