Inter-University Committee on International Migration and Humanitarian Studies

Since its establishment in 1974, the Inter-University Committee on International Migration has been a focal point for migration and refugee studies at member institutions, which include Boston University, Brandeis University, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Harvard University, MIT, Tufts University, and Wellesley College. The committee is chaired by MIT as a program of the Center for International Studies (CIS).

During each academic year, the Committee sponsors two seminar series on international migration: the Migration Seminar Series, held at MIT's Center for International Studies. The seminars explore factors affecting international population movements and their impact upon sending and receiving countries and relations among them.

The Committee organizes workshops and conferences on specific aspects of international migration. Selected papers from these and from the seminars are published by CIS in the Rosemarie Rogers Working Paper Series, named after the late founding member of the Inter-University Committee.

Despite the recent flourish of interest in international migration, forced migration remains relatively neglected by economists. The intent of the workshop was therefore to assess the state of knowledge on economic aspects of forced migration, to help define an agenda for future work and research methods, and to promote wider interest in this set of issues among the economics community. Those invited included researchers and practitioners who have actively contributed to various aspects of the economics of forced migration, a wider set of economists with interests connected to international migration and development, and experts in forced migration more generally.

This innovative inter-university program is designed for graduate students seeking an education in the evolving and multidisciplinary field of humanitarian studies. The program allows eligible students of the partnering institutions (Harvard School of Public Health, The Friedman School of Nutrition Science Policy and the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and MIT) to incorporate the requirements outlined here into their respective program of study. The core requirements provide for a solid foundation in humanitarian studies while allowing for flexibility based on individual background and interest. An integral and required element of the program is the completion of a supervised, three-month field placement in which students gain practical experience in humanitarian response.

Each of the partnering institutions has developed areas of expertise, talent, and distinguished faculty in the evolving field of humanitarian studies. These faculty have joined forces to create this opportunity, through which students at each institution can obtain a robust education in humanitarian studies while completing the requirements of their individual degrees. This initiative has created bridges linking these three institutions, which students can traverse to meet the educational needs required in humanitarian studies: flexibility, diversity, excellence, and comprehensiveness.