MAPS 2nd Summer School
Within the MAPS project, 40 young researchers from ten African countries are carrying out research on migration and forced displacement under the supervision of distinguished academics from both Africa and Europe. The project foresees their participation in a capacity-building programme consisting of three summer schools, each focusing on a specific aspect of the topic.
The first MAPS Summer School, titled “Understanding Migration and Forced Displacement in Sub-Saharan Africa,” was hosted by AMREF International University (AMIU) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 10 to 14 November 2025. The SSIIM UNESCO Chair contributed to the first summer school through the active participation of Prof. Giovanna Marconi and Dr. Laura Colini.
From 2 to 6 February 2026, the University of Dodoma will host the second MAPS Summer School on “Research Methods, Data Collection, and Analysis” in Dar es Salaam, providing advanced training in migration studies and aimed at strengthening participants’ skills in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research.
Through lectures, case studies, and working group sessions, participants will gain practical experience in data collection and analysis, explore the ethical and spatial dimensions of migration, and learn how to integrate diverse research approaches.
This high-level initiative contributes to building a global community of migration researchers and to addressing the complex challenges of migration studies.
The SSIIM UNESCO Chair at the University Iuav of Venice will contribute to this second summer school with seminars by Dr. Gianfranco Pozzer and Prof. Domenico Patassini on “Climate Change and Spatial Dynamics: Methodologies for Vulnerability Assessment.”
download the Agenda (PDF) for more details
* The MAPS Project—coordinated by the UNESCO Chair in Migrations, Population, and Development at Sapienza University of Rome— promotes evidence-based policy solutions on migration and displacement and involves a multidisciplinary consortium from Europe and Africa. Partner institutions include six Italian universities hosting UNESCO Chairs (Sapienza, Udine, University Iuav of Venice, Brescia, Ferrara, and Reggio Calabria), the University of Barcelona (Spain), the University of Dodoma (Tanzania), the University of Kabale (Uganda), and AMREF International University (Kenya). Advisory institutions contributing to the MAPS initiative include the IOM Regional Data Hub for West and Central Africa, the Catholic University of Rwanda, and the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa).
