University of Minho launched a project to include migrant citizens

The University of Minho (UMINHO) yesterday presented the European project Erasmus + STEAMigPOWER’ aimed at the integration of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
The project is the result of a consortium involving the University of Minho and five other universities from Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey and a company from Cyprus.
“Partners were selected from Southern Europe, due to the migratory routes of the Mediterranean Sea”, said Sofia Barbosa Pereira, researcher at UMinho, responsible for the European project Erasmus + STEAMigPower.
The objective is to promote the socio-economic inclusion of migrants. “The project aims to integrate higher education institutions in the process of socio-economic integration of migrants and refugees who are arriving in Europe. The great result we intend to have is the development of a course (STEAMigPOWER intensive program) with two introductory courses”, explained Sofia Barbosa Pereira.
One of these courses provided participants with digital skills and another on social inclusion, with European concepts of democracy, civic participation and the notion of equality.
This is followed by intensive training with five courses in the area of ​​the environment, climate change and sustainability. “The idea is to showcase the areas of Engineering and try to attract these migrants to higher education and, specifically, to areas of Engineering that have high employability”, added Sofia Barbosa Pereira. These courses will be adapted, in a second phase, to an online format, through the VLE Platform (distance learning). “This format will make it possible to publicize the project in refugee camps around the world and create an international network of universities that provide this platform with courses for this audience (migrants and refugees)”, explained the researcher responsible for the project.
At UMinho, the project should reach 50 people, with priority given to students who are already attending higher education and women who want to return to studying. The courses should start next summer. The migrants covered are previously referred by several institutions. “We are creating partnerships and formalizing associated partners in the region, such as the Red Cross of Braga and Guimarães, city councils and other associations and non-governmental organizations”, said Sofia Barbosa Pereira.