The second edition of the Urban Academy on the Integration of Migrants and Refugees will take place in Antwerp, Belgium on 21 and 22 May 2019. The Academy is a training programme for practitioners and policy makers working on migrant integration at the local, regional and national levels, providing an opportunity to create networks of peers working on similar issues across Europe.

This year’s Academy will feature two thematic strands—integration into the labour market and housing for migrant inclusion. There will be a mix of experts’ inputs as well as peer exchanges on individual policy-dilemmas and professional challenges, with plenty of space to discuss and explore innovative solutions for the challenges that participants face in their city, region or country in the field of integration.

How to participate

Participants should be working at a strategic or policy level for a local or regional authority in migrants’ integration into the labour market and/or housing for migrant inclusion. Prospective participants must complete the Application Form, which must be submitted by email to HOME-EIN@ec.europa.eu no later than 1 April 2019. Successful applicants will be contacted in early April 2019.

The Application Form asks applicants to present a case study from their city or region for which they would like to receive peer feedback during the Academy. This can be a policy-dilemma, a new policy or project that they will start in their city or region and/or a specific challenge they are facing. The case study should fall under one of the two thematic strands of the Academy. However, applicants who have pressing issues that do not fall under one of the thematic strands should let the organisers know, as the organisers may be able to accommodate other needs.

All costs of travel, accommodation and meals will be covered for the selected participants. The working language of the event will be English. No interpretation will be provided. Further questions may be directed by email to HOME-EIN@ec.europa.eu. 

About the Urban Academy on Integration

The Academy launched in 2018 under the framework of the Urban Agenda Partnership on the Inclusion of Migrants and Refugees. The Urban Agenda Partnership brings together cities, EU Member States and the European Commission to jointly develop and implement actions to foster the integration of migrants and refugees.

Read more about the Partnership’s work on integration