Migration, Integration and Governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina - EU Standards and Local Challenges

ongoing

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) faces significant challenges in migration management, including institutional coordination, insufficient training and research on migration, limited specialist knowledge, and low awareness of migration challenges for both society and decision makers. Consequences include uncoordinated management of migration flows, inconsistent policy implementation, and weak migrant integration in local communities, which leads to precarious living conditions and limited opportunities. Overall, this fosters social tensions and skepticism towards migrants. Weak harmonization with EU standards, particularly in relation to the new EU migration and asylum pact, ultimately delays EU integration. As an EU candidate, transit, and host country, BiH must enhance knowledge of EU policies on migration and EU values to strengthen institutional capacities and improve political governance. The EUMIG-BiH module bridges professional expertise and academic knowledge with EU migration studies, focusing on contemporary trends and their alignment with EU policies. It fosters debate on migration policy within EU integration context, strengthening institutional capacity and awareness. The module offers a practice-oriented curriculum for students and professionals to understand migration and policy challenges. It promotes EU values and supports harmonizing BiH policies with EU standards, enhancing the European dimension of higher education. Competencies acquired support learning and strengthen links between education, research, and innovation. The module facilitates student and academic mobility, improves data collection methodologies, supports lifelong learning, and modernizes existing curricula at the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology.