Migration and Integration: the University of Messina experential perspective

Due to geopolitical reasons, Italy is one of the main entry point of international migrants mixed flows by sea towards Europe and, in this scenario, Sicily is the main disembarkment point. Among the wide flows of refugees... [ view full abstract ]

Due to geopolitical reasons, Italy is one of the main entry point of international migrants mixed flows by sea towards Europe and, in this scenario, Sicily is the main disembarkment point. Among the wide flows of refugees people, how many students enabled to pursue their education or how many graduates starting from scratch could be intercepted by the university system playing a strategic role in the migration and integration policy? This working paper aims to share the experience of the University of Messina in this way. The paper will consist in three chapters: the first one will analyze the dimension of the migration phenomenon during the last three years up today between reality and perception; the second part will be addressed to design an overview of integration policies related to the third mission of the university system and the last one will focus on the experience of the University of Messina. In order to maximize the role as "frontiers universities", the University of Messina has in fact formally established the "Migration, social integration and intercultural communication Centre" (CEMI). The human resources are wasted sometimes (Putman) but is necessary to consider that third mission activities could permit a development of this “migrant resources” according to the social and economic values. The paper will show the experience with the aim of institutionalizing, qualify and strengthen the University's commitment in favor of the social and economic growth. The CEMI of the University of Messina has started to organize and develop all ideas, actions and plans in order to enhance the human capital expressed by refugees. The Centre serves, internally, as an accelerator assuring efficacy and efficiency  among the different University offices responsible for specific services and, externally, as an Institutional  promoter of activities and initiatives aimed at the integration in the whole meaning. The main aim (regarding the social effects, the capability of decision making, the social inclusion) would be focused on promotion of refugees’ unexpressed talents and development of human resources. In this sense CEMI wants to evaluate the unexpressed talents of migrants and to consider talents as a productive results for society considering also the managerial competences and the promotion of the employment growth and the territorial development. The perspective of the paper will structured in order to offer immediately conceptual thinking and practical proposal in this field as well as a long term overview and Its impact for the local environment, seeing It as a goal. Contents, data analyses and supply scenarios will take in count an European approach.