INSTITUTION RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INITIATIVE
Centro em Rede de Investigação em Antropologia (CRIA) - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa
Address
Centro em Rede de Investigação em Antropologia (CRIA), Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Avenida da Forças Armadas, Ed. ISCTE-IUL, 1649-026 Lisboa
WEB SITE OF THE INITIATIVE
TYPOLOGY
- Language and other introductory courses for refugee students
TARGET GROUPS
- Newly arrived refugees
- Refugees of second generation
DESCRIPTION AND METHODOLOGIES
The course for integration of refugees “Living in a Different Culture” resulted from a partnership between Lisbon Municipality – Department of Social Rights, CRIA and ISCTE-IUL (Rectory, Department of Anthropology, School of Social Sciences and the Transversal Skills Laboratory – which handled Portuguese classes).
The course was comprised of Portuguese classes and specific modules on Portuguese society taught by researchers from CRIA, an ISCTE-IUL research unit, divided into subjects such as Portuguese Culture and Society; Religion; Institutions; Asylum Law (rights and duties); Urban Living; Social Relationships and Integration Practices in Portugal, under the rationale of creating an integration platform that escapes standardized stereotypes and subalternity conditions attached to the ‘refugee’ label.
RESULTS AND IMPACT
The first edition took place between 9 January and 9 February 2017. All participants, around 20, had academic experience, either complete or incomplete. Individuals attending this first edition, and originating from Eritrea, Syria and Iraq, were expected to experience a higher education setting and to initiate an effective integration process by acknowledging their education skills. A few students will soon start to attend classes at ISCTE-IUL, although a possible integration in a course is yet to be formalized.
Feedback was highly positive.
