Law track launched for master's in Governance of Migration and Diversity
The master's programme in Governance of Migration and Diversity has expanded to include a Law track (LL.M.). Law students can now enrol in this master's programme, while students from other disciplines can gain exposure to the legal perspective.
The GMD master's is a collaborative partnership between the universities of Leiden, Rotterdam and Delft. Students of History (Leiden), Public Administration and Sociology (EUR), Urban Design (Delft), Development Studies (ISS The Hague), and now Law (Leiden) take part of their courses together. The central focus is on how public and private organisations can respond to diversity issues.
'When we launched this master's nine years ago, we actually wanted to include Law from the beginning,' explains Professor of Economic and Social History Marlou Schrover. 'With our mix of sociology, history, political science and spatial planning, we're already a primary source of graduates for various ministries who are eager to hire them, but now they'll also understand how the relevant legislation works.'
Civil effect now possible
Initially, the law track was not included in the programme due to difficulties with the civil effect qualification. Law students would not have gained access to regulated legal professions, such as becoming a barrister, with this master's. This issue has now been resolved: students with appropriate prior education, such as a bachelor's degree in Law from a Dutch law faculty, will receive the civil effect qualification through the GMD law track.
'We're absolutely delighted about this,' says Moritz Jesse, Jean Monnet Professor of Migration, Integration, Non-Discrimination. 'When you look at issues of integration, exclusion and inclusion, you can't get far enough with just the letter of the law. Of course you can prohibit discrimination, but how long have we been doing that? With a subject that revolves so much around people, you need to understand the background in order to implement effective policies.'
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Marlou Schrover during the history of migration walk in Rotterdam -
During the GMD opening event -
Impression from the academic opening
Understanding different perspectives
'In our lectures, we see how enriching it is for students to gain all these different perspectives,' Schrover adds. 'They learn to understand the underlying methodology of other disciplines. When they need to read a sociological text or work in teams with people from other disciplines, it certainly works better. The same applies to the urban planning courses that some of our students take in Delft. For a neighbourhood-focused approach, it's important to understand not only the sociological and legal aspects but also the physical issues. For example, what does it mean for a troubled neighbourhood if there's a motorway on one side and a canal on the other?'
Not one but three universities
'With courses in Delft, Leiden, The Hague and Rotterdam, our GMD master's students aren't connected to just one excellent university, but to three,' says Jesse. 'Of course, you need to be up for that as a student, but personally, I find it very exciting. You notice that students who choose this programme are truly passionate. They're not choosing a general subject, but something that really appeals to them, something they want to learn more about. What I see and hear as a lecturer is that our very diverse group of students really enjoy themselves and organise many activities beyond our official excursions to the EU in Brussels or the Red Star Line migration museum in Antwerp.' Schrover adds: 'They've also planned a joint potluck dinner at the end of the semester.'