"I come from Ecuador. Even though it’s a small country it harbours many migrants and refugees. When I was little, my aunts and uncles decided to emigrate to Italy or Spain because of the economic crisis in the year 2000. As a child, I found that disturbing because before that our family had always been together. Today, as an anthropologist I continue to reflect on what mobility means. The EMMIR curriculum immediately appealed to me due to its diverse and non-traditional fields of research, something not that common in a master's in Migrations Studies. I have always been interested in art-based research, that is how art and research can merge to innovate social research. EMMIR, through its partnership with multiple universities, not only allowed me to develop my interests in this field but also broaden my scholarly perspective in relation to Africa and Asia. Thanks to EMMIR I have friends from all over the world. In our discussions, we practised intercultural relations in real life. I have learned to be more observant and patient, and not to judge quickly. These days, to achieve something on a political level it is important more than ever to have different perspectives, create dialogue and avoid polarization. Currently, I am working part-time as part of the EMMIR team in order to welcome a new generation of students as I look for opportunities to contribute further to migration studies and education".

"I was confronted with the topic of migration for the first time in 2015/16 during the so-called migration crisis. I found the way it was reported in the media very upsetting. When I was in South Africa for my Bachelor's degree - I had studied for a teaching degree in Oldenburg - I decided to integrate the intercultural more into my studies. So EMMIR as an international Master's programme naturally appealed to me. It was very inspiring to study for two years together with 30 people from different backgrounds. You learn an incredible amount from each other and also about yourself. You question your own position, your own thinking. Migrants are, and this is a universal phenomenon, often excluded from the society they live in. Access to education, to health is more difficult. These are really basic things. I think it is important to recognise that most immigrants need special support. With my knowledge and my experience I have gained abroad, I would like to contribute to this."