Humanitarian action is only as strong as the network behind it. 🌍

Theory meets the front lines.
Recently, Iscte – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa had the honor of hosting Professor Olena Shelest-Szumilas from the Poznan University of Economics And Business—a key Associated Partner in our Erasmus Mundus Human Response program.

This wasn’t just a visit; it was a strategic synchronization. We spent the week diving deep into:
🔹 Strengthening ties and improving coordination regarding the role that partners play in the master’s programme.
🔹 Architecting the dissertation semester, internships & work placements.
🔹 Enhancing student employability in a volatile global market.
🔹 Integrating real-world research into our core curriculum and parallel activities as conferences and webinars.

The students from the Master in Humanitarian Action Master at Iscte gained first-hand insights into Poland’s humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine—a masterclass in rapid-response logistics and empathy. Professor Olena Shelest-Szumilas was also in contact with associations of immigrants and refugees from Ukraine.

From policy discussions to on-the-ground coordination with a visit to Center for Migrations at Fundão of other Associated Partner of the programme, Município do Fundão.

As part of the meetings on migration experiences organised by Observatório da Emigração, CIES – Iscte and CRIA-Iscte, the conference/seminar “From Policy to Practice: How Labour Dependency Drives Employers’ Support for Migrant Workers” took place.

Looking forward for more insightful experiences 🌟