Study Abroad Report
Mobility type: Student mobility for studies between Programme Countries Dates of mobility: 05/02/2018 – 28/06/2018
Country of mobility: Malta Sending organisation
Name: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Country: The Netherlands
City: Groningen Receiving organisation Name: L-Università ta' Malta Country: Malta
City: Msida
Courses you have taken and earned credits
- Refugee Law and Statelessness: Practical Aspects
During this course, we learned more about the legal, policy and practical aspects concerning both refugees and stateless persons. We actively engaged in discussions on policy consideration for the creation and resolution of refugee and stateless situations. A lot of attention was paid on the Conventions. Especially the focus on stateless persons was new which contributed therefore to a broadening of my knowledge on this topic. Besides the classes, writing the individual paper was a nice way to gain more knowledge. I wrote about refugee and stateless determination systems in the Netherlands, something I did not know that much about. It was a nice opportunity to get to more know about this subject which could definitely help me in the future.
- Management in Humanitarian Action
This course was given during a one week intensive block course. The course was about the setting up of projects and the management of these projects. Attention was given to the principles and core standards, the SPHERE project and the phases of Project Cycle Management and how they can be mainstreamed. Through groupwork we learned how to set up a project which provided us with a basic understanding on project management. We learned how to compile a proposal (including log frame, basic budget, procurement plan etc.), how to ensure accountability and how to mainstream cross cutting issues (like gender).
- Applied Ethics in Humanitarian Action
This was by far my favorite course this semester, given as a block course (a first part before Easter break and a second part after Easter break). During this course we examined the ethics of humanitarian action from a case study approach in which key ethical questions were asked. We gained knowledge on relevant theories on how to approach ethical dilemmas. This course helps to critically interrogate in humanitarian organizations and humanitarian crises. You learn more about theoretical, conceptual and ethical debates. Especially the book ‘Humanitarian Ethics’ from Hugo Slim is something worth reading on these topics.
- Methodology and Research Methods in Humanitarian Studies
This course was mostly about quantitative and qualitative methods and a combination of these two. A number of methods were examined in a more in-depth manner, such as case studies, ethnography and interview techniques.
- Human Security, Forced Migration and Humanitarian Action
This course comprised of a series of lecture on a range of social science perspectives on core issues related to forced migration and debates related to forced migration. A lot of attention was paid to theories on labeling and the importance of discourse. The concept ‘illegal immigrant’ was critically assessed and a lecture was given about ‘intersectionality’. Forced migration is seen as a lived experience. Part of the course was a guest lecture from IOM and a visit to EASO which was quite interesting.
- Migration and Migration Control
During this course a clear overview was given of migration and migration control issues. The first part was about the general concepts and theories, followed by a more historical overview of migratory patterns in the Mediterranean region. (Root) causes of migration were discussed, as well as integration issues, political and economic impacts of migration, migrant smuggling and human trafficking, and migration policies (both internal and external).
Quality of education and the level of information and help provided by the host institution
There were quite a lot of complaints from students during our semester in Malta. Most of the complaints had to do with the quality of education. There was some overlapping between courses (especially between the course on ‘Human Security, Forced Migration and Humanitarian Action’, ‘Migration and Migration Control’ and ‘Refugee Law and Statelessness: Practical Aspects’). There were quite a few classes that got cancelled (especially for ‘Refugee Law and Statelessness: Practical Aspects’ (although there were valid personal reasons for this) and ‘Human Security, Forced Migration and Humanitarian Action). And the overall quality of education was quite low. For some courses a lot of time was spent on presentations of students which resulted in only 20-30 minutes lecture from the professor. Other courses, especially Methodology, were a repetition of knowledge most of us already acquired during our first year of Bachelor’s. And the ‘Management on Humanitarian Action’ course was for some of us, the students who did their first semester in Groningen in particular, an exact repetition from a previous course. Credits for the course on humanitarian ethics though, which I really enjoyed.
Reception and accommodation at the host institution
In comparison to the time and effort our first coordinator in Groningen spent on us, the coordinator in Malta did quite a poor job (especially in the beginning, this changed during the semester in which real attempts to achieve a better relationship with students were made, although this came for some of us too late). It would have been nice to get a short tour on the campus for example. Or to get some more information on how to borrow books from the library. They did organize an introduction talk, which was well done. Accommodation was not provided by the host institution but can easily be found through mainly Facebook webpages.
Contacts with teachers and students support from home institution
I did not have a lot of contact with teachers from my home institution, but we did receive some email from our coordinator in Groningen which was nice. I guess the overall support from the home institution was good, although I did not personally experience this.
Estimation of expenses during your exchange
A one way ticket to Malta was around 100 euros. I shared a 3 bedroom apartment with two girls, we each paid 330 euros a month (excluding bills for which we paid around 100 euros each for four months). Living expenses were quite similar to the Netherlands. There is a Lidl which is cheap, groceries were around 20/30 euros a month. I went to a gym (quite luxe) for which I paid around 30 euros each month. I did some diving courses which were quite expensive but definitely worth it! Half a liter of beer is around 2 euros when you go out, in the supermarket you can get them for 70/80 cents. Public transport is quite cheap (1.50 for a ticket which you can use for two hours), but not reliable at all. Taxi prices (use the Taxify app!) are cheap, which is a good alternative if busses do not show up. I wanted to get a job in Malta as well, but learned soon that they pay max. 4/5 euros a hour, which is, compared to the Netherlands, not much.
