The issues of gender equality and migration are closely linked to development in Africa and increasingly considered one of its key indicators. Sudan and Uganda in the African Great Lake Region are both the source and destination of many refugees. Women are at a higher risk due to forced migration related to armed conflicts and natural disasters, and the increase in HIV/AIDS rates. Yet universities and research institutes of these countries run very few migration and gender study programmes and general aware- ness of the issues is very low. The IMMIS project aims to combat this trend and to implement study modules, strengthen academic research and raise public awareness of migration and gender issues in Uganda and Sudan.

The project “African Migration and Gender in Global Context – Implementing Migration Studies” will bring together Makerere University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda, Ahfad University for Women in Sudan and University of Oldenburg in Germany. Institutional networking of the four partners will increase their capacities in the field of African migration research and gender studies. The partners will jointly develop graduate curricula and collaborate in research, facilitated by fellowships, faculty exchange, conferences and the improvement of academic infrastructure.

Developing Master’s programmes and fostering research

A core element of the project will be the development of graduate curricula for exisiting Master’s programmes in the participating African universities and the establishment of an African-European Master’s in migration studies, based on blended learning (a mix of traditional learning and distance courses). The study modules will take into account all forms of migration and displacement in a gender-conscious and comprehensive manner. Related issues to be addressed are intercultural conflict resolution mechanisms, multicultural governance issues and East African integration.

Prior to designing curricula, the partners will realise a needs assessment for the integration of African migration and gender studies that highlights labour market demands, migration and gender discourses, as well as policies in their respective societies. The developed curriculum will meet the needs of the involved East African regions for economic, social and cultural development. It will also serve to reduce gender disparities in higher education and educational programmes.

Furthermore, in an attempt to improve policy analysis as well as conceptual and practical work in institutions (government organisations, NGOs) concerned with migrants and refugees, the three African partner universities will draft policy analysis reports on migration and gender issues in their countries and region. These reports will be presented and discussed with governmental and non-governmental organisations and other policy making bodies. Following this process, the African partners will design case studies and policy development reports, and agree on possible research fields.

Exchange of teachers and students

An essential project element will be the exchange of experiences and know-how on the north/north as well as on the north/south level. This will be done through workshops, seminars, conferences and most importantly through exchange of students and teachers. Training for African teachers will also be organised at the University of Oldenburg in areas such as training the trainers in teaching traumatised children and conflict mediation.

Students at the three Universities in Uganda and Sudan already enrolled in a Master’s course will be selected to take part in a students’ workshop on gender and migration studies and will be given the possibility to enrol in a dual degree (national Master plus Joint Master in Migration and Intercultural Relations).