Conferences
International Conference on Migrant and Refugee Issues in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean
Join us from Monday 8 December to Thursday 11 December, 2025 at the Centre for Language Learning (CLL), at The UWI St. Augustine for the CLL’s first ever Migration Conference and Fair! This memorable event will be jointly organized with the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, at The UWI St. Augustine, with the kind sponsorship of the EU-Latin America Academic Synergies (EULAS).
Alongside our keynote address, roundtable discussions, workshops and information sessions, there’ll be some exciting surprises in celebrate this event.
With its theme as BEAM (Beaming light on Migration, Bilingual Education, and Integration), this event aims to explore innovative practices that promote mutual understanding, participation and integration of refugees, migrants, children on the move and displaced people.
Whether you work in academia, for government ministries, NGOs or your professional duties centre around education and migration, this is your opportunity to connect, share, and shape what comes next.
View the draft programme here.
Call for Papers
The Caribbean region has long been shaped by migration, displacement, and the continuous movement of people across borders. Today, migrants and refugees face complex socio-political challenges, including economic precarity, xenophobia, legal barriers, and the intersection of gender and race in migration experiences. As Caribbean nations grapple with these evolving realities, it is crucial to examine how migration and refugee-hood impact national identity, cultural belonging, regional policies, and social justice.
This call is situated within a broader research agenda that explores Europe–Latin America cooperation on global governance, particularly in areas related to mobility, human rights, and inclusive multilateralism. We encourage submissions that not only explore Caribbean migration in its local and regional contexts, but also analyze its connections with Europe and Latin America — including historical ties, evolving policy dialogues, and opportunities for normative alignment in migration governance.
Conference Date and Time
December 9 – 10, 2025 8:00AM – 5PM (AST)
Themes and Topics
- Language and Education in Transnational Contexts
- Historical and Contemporary Migration Trends between the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe
- Cultural Identity and Belonging across Regions
- Gender, Race, and Migration
- Policy Frameworks: Regional, Bi-regional (EU–CELAC*), and Multilateral Approaches
- Economic and Labour Migration in a Globalized Economy
- Media Representations and Public Discourse in Europe and LAC regions
- Migrant Voices and Lived Experiences in Transregional Spaces
- Comparative Approaches to Migration Justice and Cooperation
* The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
Submission Period
June 1 – 27, 2025
Abstract Submission
Click here to submit your abstract.
Submission Guidelines
- Abstract: 250–300 words, outlining the proposed paper’s focus and significance.
- Keywords: list of 4-5 keywords
- Biographical Note: 100 words, including name, affiliation and relevant publications or area of research/work.
Submission Deadline
Friday 27 June, 2025
Fees
Register to Attend Conference
Click here to register to attend the conference.
About the Venue
Name
Centre for Language Learning
Address
The University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus Trinidad & Tobago
Telephone
Direct Line: (868) 663-5660
Extension: 662-2002 Ext 82525, 83868
Conference Email
migrant fair
Date and Time
Thursday 11 December 2025 | 10:00AM – 3:00PM
Who can attend?
This fair is open to members of the public, but especially those of the migrant population in Trinidad and Tobago. Further details…coming soon.
For more information, email us at sta-beam2025@sta.uwi.edu.
media highlights
The UWI Student Volunteer Initiative is a project developed by The UWI’s Centre for Language Learning (CLL) and the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics (DMLL). It pairs UWI students with migrant children to teach them English in preparation for their eventual entry into primary school.
The UWI’s Centre for Language Learning (CLL) and the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics (DMLL) in collaboration with the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Division of the Ministry of Education (MoE), facilitated a series of workshops to equip ECCE teachers with the tools and knowledge to integrate Spanish into daily classroom routines.
CLL Director, Dr Nicole Roberts, and DMLL Foreign Language Instructor in Spanish, Romulo Guedez, presented findings of a pilot project at The UWI Research Festival and Principal’s Research Awards in 2023. The project sought to assess migrants children’s readiness for integration into the primary education system.
The UWI’s Centre for Language Learning (CLL) and the Caribbean Kids and Family Therapy Organization facilitated two workshops for English and Spanish-speaking educators on integrating content and language, translanguaging pedagogy, and using sensory strategies to improve attention and regulation.
