Like many of us, I am the product of a union between people who embarked on a journey of migration (a German-Senegalese father and a German-Ghanaian mother), and having grown up in France, the MITRA master’s program seemed like the ideal course of study to combine both academic and practical knowledge of contemporary migration issues, which have always shaped who I am.

For me, the MITRA master’s program steered my life in a direction with which I feel completely aligned today, both professionally and personally. Not only was I able to gain a comprehensive understanding (sociological, political, legal, etc.) and develop academic skills related to contemporary migration issues around the world, but it also allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the diversity of international perspectives through my semesters in Belgium, Poland, and Senegal. Above all, through this master’s program, I was able to complete a research project on the return of descendants of Senegalese people to Senegal, which sheds light on important contemporary themes: the connections between the diaspora, its descendants, and the country of origin.

All of this has perfectly prepared me to be actively involved today in the nonprofit and cultural sectors in Toubab Dialaw, a coastal village in Senegal, through my work managing a cultural center that addresses social, cultural, and environmental issues—all of which are intrinsically linked to migration challenges. The opportunities for student support offered by MITRA have also allowed me, even after completing my studies, to continue my work on these themes through artistic and scientific projects focused on the return of the African diaspora, as well as issues of transgenerational transmission.

I am deeply grateful to all the professors, students, and individuals who have helped me succeed on this journey and without whom I would not be where I am today—I owe it all to them.

As a lawyer by training, I chose the Erasmus Mundus MITRA Master’s program to deepen my understanding of international migration in an interdisciplinary and multicultural academic environment.

Beyond the coursework, this program offered me exceptional opportunities for engagement and international cooperation. As the representative for French-speaking students on the program’s steering committee, I participated in several meetings in the consortium’s partner countries and, alongside other student representatives and committee members, helped draft the application for the renewal of Erasmus Mundus funding from the EACEA. This collective effort resulted in the award of a third European funding contract for the period 2025–2031.

Since October 2023, I have continued this commitment as a Program Representative within the Erasmus Mundus Association (EMA). This experience has notably allowed me to participate in the association’s General Assembly and annual conference in Istanbul in May 2024, while expanding my international network.

For me, MITRA represents much more than a degree: it is a defining personal and academic experience, an international network, and the opportunity to actively contribute to the future of a program of which I am proud to be a graduate.