Simone de Beauvoir Summer Institute

Overview

Hosted by Gada Mahrouse, associate professor in the Simone de Beauvoir Institute, Departures, arrivals, and encounters: Feminist approaches to migration & mobility justice (WSDB 398 GA) is an intensive, interdisciplinary course for undergraduate and graduate students as well as interested members of the public.

It can be taken for credit (3) or as a non-credit course.

Confirmed Speakers:

Nirmala Erevelles
Tazim Jamal
Bonita Lawrence
Yen Lê Espiritu
Mimi Sheller
Harsha Walia

Also featuring:

Agir Montréal - LGBTQ Migrant Support
Hasan Al Kontar
Martha Balaguera
Monica Batac
Simone Cambridge
Kellee Caton
Seçil Dagtas
Muhammed Nour-Elkhairy
Nadia El Shaarawi
Brian Grimwood
Christina Kazak-Clark
Dominic Lapointe
Ed Ou Jin Lee
Kristin Lozanski
Bettina Perez Martinez
Fimo Mitchell
Robyn Maynard
Vinh Nguyen
Projet Accompagnement Solidarité Colombie
Solidary Across Borders
Leila Whitley
And more

Educational program

The format of this seminar is immersive, intensive and interactive.

Feminist framework

Defining feminism as a philosophical and political orientation that seeks to dismantle inequities and injustice, this course adheres to the following principles:

An analytical, theoretical, and methodological framework based on anti-racist, feminist, anti-colonial, critical disability and queer perspectives.
A praxis-centered approach that bridges academic research with knowledge from ‘on-the-ground’ solidarity and community initiatives.
A commitment to creating an intellectual space for the sharing and transmission of knowledge that has the potential to fundamentally transform understandings and practices.

The following methods, approaches and frameworks will be addressed

critical refugee studies
critical race theories
border studies

critical disability studies
critical tourism studies
cultural studies

transnational feminism
gender and sexuality studies
anticolonial theories

Keywords and concepts

detention
borders
citizenship
hospitality
human rights
ethics

flows
accessibility
advocacy
biopolitics
statelessness
solidarity

passport
push/pull forces
gratitude
humanitarianism
undocumented
privilege

pandemic
vulnerability
militarism
visa
displacement
deportation

Disciplines

sociology
political science
film
literature
geography
history
communications

Schedule

Participants should plan to dedicate 3–4 full days before the start of the institute for preparation and background reading and one week after for completing and submitting course work (if taken for credit).

The required reading and viewing materials will be posted on May 1 (10 days before the Summer Institute begins).

Most course assignments will be due during the institute but your final reflection and self-evaluation will be due one week after the institute concludes (on May 26).

During the summer institute

Three hours of mandatory “live” (synchronous) presentations and activities will take place daily from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Participants will also be expected to spend approximately three hours a day on asynchronous activities (i.e, reading and viewing course materials, etc).

Important dates

May 1

Course material and syllabus posted
Begin reading and preparation

May 10–19 (eight full days)

May 10 Summer Institute begins
May 19 Summer Institute ends

After May 26

Final projects due

Typical day
9 to 10:30 a.m.	Course work	Asynchronous activities (i.e., required reading/viewing, working on assignments, etc.)
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.	Mandatory ‘live’ Zoom session 1	Synchronous activities (i.e. keynote presentation, expert guest speaker presentations, small group student discussions)
Lunch break (on your own)
1 to 2:30 p.m.	Mandatory ‘live’ Zoom session 2	Synchronous activities (i.e., keynote presentation, expert guest speaker presentations, small group student discussions)
2:45 to 4:15 p.m.	Course work	Asynchronous activities (i.e., required reading/viewing, working on assignments, etc.)

Cost and registration

For credit

Open to Concordia students. There are a limited number of spots available to graduate students.
Email summerinstitute@concordia.ca for more information. Undergraduate students can register for the course as they would any course at Concordia.

Non-credit

Students external to Concordia and members of the public must apply by contacting summerinstitute@concordia.ca.
If accepted, the registration fee is $200CAD.

Technical requirements

Access to a computer with a microphone and camera (use of headphones recommended).
A stable internet connection.
The latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari (Internet Explorer is not compatible with the event platform).

Before you register

I have the technological requirements needed.
I can complete the pre-course requirements between May 1 to 9 (approximately 3–4 full days of preparation work).
I can commit 6–7 hours of coursework a day for eight days on May 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18 and 19.
I can commit up to three hours a day, between 11:00 am to 2:30 p.m. EST on live (synchronous) sessions on the above dates.
I can participate actively in discussions and learning activities.

Simone de Beauvoir Institute