Education & Migration in Central Europe (EMCE) - A Research Network for Inclusive Education in Central Europe

Central Eastern Europe is experiencing profound social and political transformations. Migration, particularly in the wake of the war in Ukraine, has emerged as a key challenge to education systems. The arrival of forcibly displaced people is reshaping local communities and placing new demands on schools. These include not only student integration but also curricular adjustments, teacher preparedness, and psychological support structures.

The EMCE (Education & Migration in Central Europe) Seminar Series is a direct response to these challenges. This international academic initiative brings together scholars, educators, and policymakers to examine the complex realities of migrant education. It fosters regional cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and the formulation of inclusive educational strategies.

The initiative is funded by the Science for Society II – Science Popularization Program, with a grant of 288,622.90 PLN (2024–2026). It is led by the University of Lower Silesia (DSW) in partnership with academic institutions in Germany, Czechia, Hungary, and Ukraine.

The EMCE Seminar Series is designed not only as an academic forum but as a catalyst for systemic change in migrant education. The project’s objectives are:

1. Facilitating transnational knowledge exchange – Engaging scholars and practitioners from Poland, Hungary, Germany, Czechia, Ukraine, and other countries (e.g., Lithuania, Austria, the US, Canada) to examine the educational consequences of migration.
2. Supporting educators and schools – Promoting inclusive teaching practices and developing tools and resources for those working with displaced students.
3. Publishing and disseminating research – Preparing a special issue of a peer-reviewed open-access journal to share empirical findings, policy analyses, and educational approaches.
4. Building a sustainable international network – Strengthening cross-border and cross-sector collaboration between researchers, educators, and civil society organizations.
5. Increasing public engagement – Raising awareness of the challenges and opportunities in migrant education through seminars and outreach activities.

"More Light on..." consists of 16 online seminars and 2 in-person events designed to facilitate in-depth discussions and collaborations among researchers and practitioners.

EMCE Intro – Opening Seminar

February 6-7, 2025 | Wrocław, Poland
The first in-person seminar will bring together leading scholars, educators, and policymakers for keynote presentations, interactive workshops, and networking sessions. The event will establish key research themes for the seminar series.

Online Seminar Series

March 2025 – June 2026
Third Tuesday of each month 17:30 – 19:00 CET (TEAMS)

Each online seminar will explore a different aspect of migrant education and integration. Topics include:

• Reinventing Solidarity – A conversation on new forms of solidarity in the context of migration with David Bernet (March 19, 2025)
• Academic Mobility: Risk or Opportunity? – An open debate on the challenges of academic mobility with Prof. Andrea Peto, Central European University (April 15, 2025)
• Multilingualism in Schools – Practical insights from research on multilingual school education with Dr. Olena Vasylchenko, Vienna University (May 20, 2025)
• Displaced Ukrainian Universities as Spaces of Resilience – Examining the realities of Ukrainian universities operating in exile with Dr.? Daryna Dvornichenko (June 17, 2025)
• Psychotherapeutic Support for Refugee Ukrainian Children – Addressing the psychological needs of refugee children and their families with Professor Anna-Lena Zietlow and Dr. Judith Buse, Technical University Dresden (September 17, 2025)
• An Ethnographic Exploration of Ethnic Diversity in Lithuanian Schools – Exploring how students navigate identity and belonging in diverse school environments with Kornelija Čepytė (October 21, 2025)
• The Role of Auditory Perception in Language Acquisition – Investigating multilingual children's ability to differentiate German vowel sounds with Shabnam Najmishad (November 18, 2025)
• "Watching My Memories Be Destroyed" – A study of Ukrainian Americans organizing humanitarian assistance for Ukraine with Galia Chimiak (December 16, 2025)
• Towards Multiculturalism – The Polish Education System After 2004 – A discussion on Poland’s shifting education policies with Anna Dolińska (January 20, 2026)
• Learning in the Post-Digital Knowledge Society – How textbooks, social media, and AI shape education today, led by Dr. Monika Popow (March 17, 2026)
• Artistic Resilience: Healing of Young People Amidst War – Examining creative coping mechanisms among Ukrainian teenagers in Scotland with Dr. Kateryna Buchko (April 21, 2026)

Find the full schedule and details on our Facebook page.

EMCE Outro – Closing Seminar

June 2026 | Wrocław, Poland
The final in-person seminar will summarize key research findings, discuss policy recommendations, and explore opportunities for future collaboration. The event will also mark the launch of the EMCE Seminar Series research publication.

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Education & Migration in Central Eastern Europe (EMCE) is an international research network dedicated to exploring the intersection of education and migration in Central Eastern Europe. Our mission is to foster collaboration among scholars, educators, and policymakers to address the challenges faced by migrant and refugee communities through education. By combining research. advocacy and innovate educational practicies. we aim to create inclusive learning environments and support social integration across the region.

EMCE unites experts from five countries—Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Germany, and Ukraine—forming a diverse, interdisciplinary network of researchers affiliated with leading academic institutions:

• University of Lower Silesia (DSW), Poland
• Masaryk University, Czechia
• Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Hungary
• Technical University Dresden (TU Dresden), Germany
• Ukrainian Catholic University, Ukraine

In collaboration with NGOs, policymakers, and educational institutions, we analyze and improve policies related to migration and education. Our key activities include organizing international seminars, developing research-based teaching resources, and contributing to public discourse on migration and education.

Our Work

The EMCE network is actively engaged in research projects such as the Erasmus+ initiative "Act4Mig: A Course for Teachers on Forced Migration," which supports educators working with refugee students. We are also the driving force behind the EMCE Seminar Series, a platform for exchanging knowledge on migration and education across Central Europe.

Through these initiatives, EMCE strengthens the connection between research and practice, ensuring that education systems across the region are better equipped to foster inclusion and respond to the needs of diverse student populations.