Old Members’ Trust Graduate Conference and Academic Travel Grant – Emilie McDonnell

The Old Members’ Trust Travel Grant allowed me to go to Brussels for the Annual conference hosted by the Odysseus Network on “Conflict and Compromise between Law and Politics in EU Migration and Asylum Policies”.

This trip was an excellent opportunity as the conference was directly relevant to my MPhil in Law thesis as well as my DPhil that I will begin next year. I attended sessions and had discussions on international responsibility for the cooperation of the EU and its member states with the Libyan coastguard; the implementation of the European Agenda on Migration; the EU/Turkey deal; visas for asylum; and the right to leave in international law.

These sessions have proved extremely useful in writing my thesis and how to think about the topics of externalisation of migration control practices and the right to leave that I explore in my thesis. It provided me with new ways to look at the legal issues surrounding migration control practices and state responsibility.

It was also an invaluable networking opportunity. I met a number of prominent academics and practitioners working in the field who I got to share my research with and hear about their work and careers. They provided me with useful literature to explore and gave me their contact details for future contact.

I am grateful to the Old Members’ Trust for allowing me to partake in this valuable experience.

Find out more about the range of travel grants and scholarships available to assist Univ students on our Travel Grants page or read further travel reports.

Published: 3 April 2018

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