91̽��

The course was developed to fill a gap in the educational offering, explains course director Gabriella Elgenius, Professor at the Department of Sociology and Work 91̽�� at the University 91̽��. - “We saw a need for a course that addresses the connections between citizenship, civil society and integration – key concepts for understanding how people engage with society and institutions, especially in times of global migration and social change,” she says.

In addition to offering an in-depth exploration of academic theory, the course served as a meeting place where PhD students could exchange perspectives and reflect together. - “I’ve been impressed by how the field has been presented to us in such a coherent and manageable way,” says Max Walej, a PhD student researching AI and biometric surveillance in policing. - “Most contemporary debates in the field were discussed from different angles, which was both interesting and helpful.”

The campus week included lectures, seminars, project presentations, and – not least – informal conversations between participants and teaching researchers. Pip Mc Knight, who researches maternal health care in the UK asylum system, described the week as a much-needed break from the otherwise often solitary life of a doctoral student. - “As a PhD student, much of the learning is self-directed, so I really appreciated being able to immerse myself in a well-structured course with inspiring lecturers. But it was also the conversations between sessions that meant the most – those informal meetings where we could deepen the discussions,” she says.

The Swedish Research Council’s graduate school aims not only to strengthen doctoral students’ research competence, but also to build interdisciplinary and transnational networks – something that became very clear during the campus week. - “Presenting my project and receiving feedback from researchers in fields ranging from law to art was both challenging and enriching. Encounters like these bring new insights that I will carry with me,” says Max Walej.

Several participants found that the course helped reshape their research questions and deepen their theoretical perspectives. Pip Mc Knight offers a concrete example: - “The lecture on race and migration made me rethink how I integrate these concepts in my work. I previously saw race and immigration status as separate factors, but now I realize the need for a more intersectional approach.”

Amin Mohseni, who researches the role of civil society in integration processes, described how the course broadened his understanding:
- “Gaining insight into other participants’ projects and theoretical approaches has expanded my way of thinking. The course has helped me both deepen and reframe my research.”

For the course director, it was inspiring to teach such a diverse group.
- “The students’ different backgrounds, both academically and geographically, enriched the discussions immensely. I’ve learned a lot from their exciting projects and perspectives,” she says.

For the participants, the campus week was not only an academic deepening, but also a space for networking, reflection, and reassurance. Natalie Bye, who researches the labour market experiences of young adults with humanitarian immigrant backgrounds, shared that, in light of the current anti-immigrant rhetoric, she worries about how her research might be received outside of academic circles. Being able to openly discuss the challenges and potential risks of working on topics related to migration and citizenship—especially how such work might be perceived in different political climates—was both validating and comforting for her.

The Swedish Research Council’s graduate school in migration and integration is an important initiative to strengthen research in one of today’s most complex fields. As questions of citizenship, belonging and integration become increasingly central in public debate, the need for theoretically grounded and interdisciplinary research continues to grow.

And looking ahead, the course director concludes: - “We have several new courses in the pipeline on topics such as the labor market, nationalism, racism, and intersectional perspectives. Our hope is that the graduate school continues to grow as a hub for critical and interdisciplinary research where different perspectives can meet.”

Text: Alice Johansson

Course lecturers

Gabriella Elgenius, Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology and Work 91̽��, University 91̽��, Course Director.

Kerstin Jacobsson, Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology and Work 91̽��, University 91̽��.

Juta Kawalerowicz, Senior Lecturer, Department of Human Geography, University of Stockholm.

Anders Neergard, Professor of Sociology, Division of Migration, Ethnicity and Society, REMESO, Linköping University.

Jenny Phillimore, Professor of Migration and Superdiversity, Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology, University of Birmingham. 

Peter Scholten, Professor of Migration and Diversity Policy, Director of the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus research centre on the Governance of Migration and Diversity, Erasmus University Rotterdam.