In 2016, MiReKoc Summer School explored the theme of forced migration. As António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, (2015) stated “We are witnessing a paradigm change, an unchecked slide into an era in which the scale of global forced displacement as well as the response required is now clearly dwarfing anything seen before.” While there have been a number of refugee movements throughout history due to wars, the dissolution of empires, conflicts fuelled by ultra-nationalism, the oppressive regimes, and resource scarcity, they pale in comparison to the scope of what we face today. The outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in March 2011 has undoubtedly caused the world’s largest humanitarian crisis since World War II. Globally, one in every 122 humans is now either a refugee or internally displaced or asylum seeker according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR). Forced migration has become a growing issue in recent years, all over the world, which unquestionably has long-term impacts not only on immigrant-receiving and emigrant-sending countries, but also those who are forced to flee their homes. As the influx of forced migrants is likely to increase, the phenomena has sparked public debate on the causes of forced migration, its impacts on host societies, its international legal dimension, and discussions about the vulnerability and uncertainty faced by these individuals. This issue has been put on the agenda of academic communities, policy-makers, various governmental, inter-governmental, and non-governmental organizations, as well as humanitarian actors. Right now, the issue of forced migration is more important, and more challenging, than ever.
The MiReKoc International Summer School of 2016 focused on the discussions around forced migration and its challenges. The Summer School consisted of ten days of lectures and discussions led by a distinguished international faculty, combined with seminars led by NGO representatives, and a field trip within Istanbul. Summer School of 2016 blended historical, theoretical discussions along with the case studies of forced migration from around the world, as well as in and from Türkiye.
Sunday, 10 July 2016
Arrival to Koç University, Sarıyer
19:00-21:00 Welcome Reception at Koç University
Monday, 11 July 2016
09:00-09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 124, Koç University
09:30-09:45 Welcoming Remarks by Prof. Dr. Ahmet İçduygu, Koç University
09:45-10:00 Opening Speech by Klaus Wölfer, Ambassador of Austria to Türkiye
10:00- 10:45 Opening Speech by Dr. Howard Duncan, Asylum Policies of Canada, Metropolis
10:45-11:30 Discussion led by Howard Duncan
11:30-11:45 Coffee Break
11:45-12:45 Keynote Speech by Lado Gvilava, Chief of Mission, IOM Türkiye
12:45-13:45 Discussion led by Lado Gvilava
13:45-14:30 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria
14:30-14:45 Koç University Orientation
14:45-16:00 History of Forced Migration in the Late Ottoman Era and Republican Era, Asst. Prof. Fuat Dündar, TOBB
16:00-16:15 Coffee Break
16:15-17:15 Discussion led by Asst. Prof. Fuat Dündar
19:00-22:00 Welcome Dinner
Tuesday, 12 July 2016
09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) CASE 124, Koç University
09:30 – 10:45 Türkiye’s Asylum Legislation and Policies in Line with International Standards, Asst. Prof. Lami Bertan Tokuzlu, Bilgi University
10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:00 Discussion session led by Asst. Prof. Lami Bertan Tokuzlu
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria
13:15 – 14:30 Forced Migration , Status Determination and Welfare: the Case of Canada by Dr. Şule Tomkinson,University of Kansas
14:30 – 14:45 Coffee break
14:45 – 16:00 Discussion led by Dr. Şule Tomkinson
16:00 – 16:15 Coffee break
16:15 – 17:15 Thematic Presentation
2 individual presentations (10 min presentation, 20 min discussion)
Wednesday, 13 July 2016
09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 124, Koç University
09:30 – 10:45 Gender, Sexual Identity and Age, Dr. Ayşen Üstübici, Koç University
10:45 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 12:00 Discussion led by Dr. Ayşen Üstübici
12:00 – 13:15 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria
13:15 – 14:30 Forced Migration, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Kerstin Schmidt, The University of Bielefeld
14:30 – 14:45 Coffee Break
14:45 – 16:00 Discussion led by Dr. Kerstin Schmidt
16:00 – 16:15 Coffee break
16:15 – 17:15 Thematic Presentations
2 individual presentations (10 min presentation, 20 min discussion)
Thursday, 14 July 2016
09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 136, Koç University
09:30 – 10:45 Internal Displacement: The Case of Kurdish IDPs, Prof. Dr. Ayşe Betül Çelik, Sabancı University
10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:00 Discussion led by Dr. Ayşe Betül çelik
12:00 – 13:15 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria
13:15 – 15:00 Thematic Presentations
3 individual presentations (10 min presentation, 20 min discussion)
15:00 – 15:15 Coffee Break
15:15 – 17:15 Thematic Presentations
3 individual presentations(10 min presentation, 20 min discussion)
Friday, 15 July 2016
09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 136, Koç University
09:30 – 11:00 Displacement, Healthcare and Humanitarian Action
09:30 – 10:15 Displacement, Healthcare and Humanitarian Action, MD. Apostolos Veizis, MSF
10:15- 10:45 Public Health: Primary Healthcare and Mental Health for Migrants, Asst. Prof. Nathan Bertelsen, Koç University
10:45-11:15 Does the integration policy for migrants is increasing inequity on access to health services in Türkiye?, Deniz Mardin, Koç University
11:15- 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:45 Joint discussion by both lecturers
12:45 – 13:30 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria
14:30 Field Trip in Kumkapı, Aksaray
Saturday, 16 July 2016
Peacemakers Annual Conference: Human Security by Koç University International Office
In the evening: Bosporus boat tour
Sunday, 17 July 2016
Free Day
Monday, 18 July 2016
09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 136, Koç University
09:30 – 10:45 The EU Neighboring Countries: The Case of Bulgaria, Assoc. Prof. Daniela Bobeva, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Development
10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:15 Discussion led by Assoc. Prof. Daniela Bobeva
12:15 – 13:30 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria
13:30 – 15:00 Thematic Presentations
3 individual presentations
15:00 – 15:15 Coffee Break
15:15 – 17:00 Thematic Presentations
3 individual presentations
Tuesday, 19 July 2016
09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 136, Koç University
09:30 – 10:45 Current Crisis: The Case of Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Ahmet İçduygu, Koç University
10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:00 Discussion led by Prof. Dr. Ahmet İçduygu
12:00 13:15 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria
13:15 – 14:30 UNRWA and the Palestinian Refugees, Prof. Dr. Riccardo Bocco, Graduate Institute Geneva
14:30 – 14:45 Coffee Break
14:45 – 16:00 Discussion led by Prof. Dr. Riccardo Bocco
Wednesday, 20 July 2016
09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 136, Koç University
09:30 – 10:45 Demographic Transition in relation to Forced Migration in Northern Africa after the Arab Spring, Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Awad, American University in Cairo
10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:00 Discussion led by Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Awad
12:00 – 13:15 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria
13:15 – 14:45 Institutional arrangements and the role of NGOs
13:15 – 13:45 Sema Genel, Director of Support to Life
13:45 – 14:15 Metin Çorabatır, Director of IGAM
14:15 – 14:45 Muhtar Çokar, Director of IKGV
14:45 – 15:15 Leyla Akca, Clinical Director, Maya Foundation
15:15 – 15:30 Coffee Break
15:30 – 17:00 Joint discussion led by lecturers
18:00 – 21:00 Meeting with the representatives of migrant communities in an early dinner at Nişantaşı
Thursday, 21 July 2016
09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 136, Koç University
09:30 – 10:45 Za’ateri Refugee Camp and the Role of NGOs in the Region, Hovig Etyemezian, Za’ateri Camp Manager
10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:00 Discussion led by Hovig Etyemezian
12:00 – 13:15 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria
13:15 – 14:00 Role of Migrant Smuggling in Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants and the Human Trafficking Consequences by Dr. Berlan Pars Alan, IOM Geneva
14:00 – 14:30 Discussion led by Dr. Berlan Pars Alan
14:30 – 14:45 Coffee Break
14:45 – 15:30 Accessing Quality Education and Child Protection: Preventing a Lost Generation within the Context of Crisis in Syria, Işık Oğuzertem, Save the Children Türkiye Programme Director
15:30 – 16:00 Discussion led by Işık Oğuzertem
16:00 – 16:30 Closing Remarks