20max points
Weekly forum
Each week, the training team posts one or more discussion prompts in the weekly forum. Your weekly contribution to the forums of each module is mandatory and counts for a total of maximum 20 points.
Overview
Welcome to the course hub
Learn how to make social protection accessible and inclusive for migrant workers and refugees worldwide.
- 19 October – 27 November 2026
- 6 weeks · Online
- Course code A9719043
- 6weeks, online
- 8online modules on e-Campus
- 12live sessions
- ~60estimated learning hours
About the course
Why this course
Of the 281 million international migrants worldwide, 169 million are migrant workers. They contribute fully to the economies of their host and home countries, yet they are often excluded from social protection coverage.
Compared with nationals who work their entire lives in one country, migrant workers face major legal and practical obstacles in accessing social protection benefits. They may be denied access, or have limited access, to social security because of their status or nationality, or because of the insufficient duration of their periods of employment and residence. Maintaining earned benefits and benefits in the course of acquisition is particularly important for long-term benefits (invalidity, old-age and survivors’), where qualifying periods may be considerable.
This course focuses on the different unilateral, bilateral and regional measures that exist to extend social protection to both migrant workers and refugees and their families, in their countries of destination and origin.
Objectives
What will I be able to do?
Understand the issues and opportunities related to the extension of social protection to migrant workers, refugees and their families.
Appreciate the international legal framework covering migrant workers and refugees.
Analyze the different measures existing to extend social protection to migrant workers and refugees, including multilateral and bilateral agreements and unilateral measures in both countries of origin and destination.
Examine the specific challenges faced by certain groups in order to access social protection, such as domestic workers, temporary migrant workers, irregular migrants and refugees.
Explore and analyze how to extend social protection to migrants and refugees based on country experiences, good practices and lessons learned from various other countries.
Learning approach
How the course works
The course consists of 8 online modules offered through the ITCILO e-Campus online platform, to be completed over six weeks for an estimated 60 learning hours. It is broken down into three phases.
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Phase 1 · Asynchronous
Flexible learning
Self-guided online learning on e-Campus, forum of discussion facilitated by experts, and assessment throughout the different phases of the course.
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Phase 2 · Synchronous
“Real time” learning
Live interactive sessions and engaging video presentations by highly experienced trainers, blended with individual and collaborative group exercises, peer-to-peer assessment and online technical forums on e-Campus.
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Phase 3 · Asynchronous
End of course assignment
An individual assignment applying the teachings acquired during the course.
Global perspective
An action-oriented, highly participative approach, with particular attention to sharing international experiences with a view to their adaptation and practical application, including “good practices” presented through case studies.
Integrated e-learning
An innovative e-learning experience combining self-paced modules, webinars and discussions, case studies, forum debates, role-play exercises and group work.
Peer-to-peer learning
Practitioners from different parts of the world and different backgrounds join the e-learning to share their concrete experience with participants.
Content
What will I learn?
- Module 1
Rationale for extending social protection to migrant workers and their families
Live session 2
- Module 2
Migrant workers’ right to social security and the international legal framework
Live session 3
- Module 3
Accessing social security through bilateral and multilateral social security agreements
Live sessions 7–8
- Module 4
Social protection in the negotiation of bilateral labour agreements (BLAs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)
Live session 7
- Module 5
Unilateral measures extending social protection to migrant workers and refugees, in countries of origin and destination
Live sessions 5, 6, 9, 10
- Module 6
Extending social protection to specific groups of migrant workers
Live sessions 4, 12
- Module 7
Extending social protection to refugees and asylum seekers
Live session 11
- Module 8
Gender, social protection and labour migration
Cross-cutting (self-paced)
Recognition
Certificate and diplomas
Participants who successfully complete all assessments and the final assignment will receive a Certificate of Achievement. See Course requirements for how the assessment works.
This course qualifies for the ITCILO Diploma for Labour Migration Experts and Practitioners: take the Academy on Labour Migration (three courses out of all eligible courses within a five-year period) and complete a capstone project. It also qualifies for the Diploma for Social Protection Managers.
Practical information
Good to know
- Dates
- 19 October – 27 November 2026
- Format
- Online, on the ITCILO e-Campus, with live sessions
- Language
- Learning materials and teaching are delivered online in English
- Time commitment
- 5–10 hours per week
- Contact
- migration@itcilo.org
Course requirements
Assessment criteria
The process is organized on a scale of 0 to 100 points and requires the successful completion of a number of activities. Each activity is assigned a specific value, and the activities are grouped in the components below.
How the 100 points are made up
| Activity | Number | Points | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly forum | 6 | — | 20 |
| Weekly quiz | 6 | 5 | 30 |
| Group work | 1 | 20 | 20 |
| Final assignment | 1 | 30 | 30 |
| Course total points | 100 | ||
Weekly forum: 6 forums, one per week, with a maximum of 20 points in total across them.
30max points
Weekly quiz
At the end of each week, you complete a quiz composed of 10 multiple choice questions. Correct answers earn 0.5 points and incorrect answers earn 0 points. Submission of the quizzes is mandatory and counts for a total of maximum 30 points (each weekly quiz = 5 points).
20points
Group work
Active participation in the group work counts for a total of 20 points.
From 2 to 27 November you work in a group of about six participants as a technical sub-working group of Solandra’s Working Group on Social Protection for Migrant Workers. Over four stages, your group diagnoses the protection gaps of one category of migrant workers, designs a package of measures, tests it for financing and feasibility, and presents it in the final session on 27 November. Groups submit a short output at the end of each stage and receive written feedback from the course manager.
30up to
Final assignment
If you wish to obtain a Certificate of Achievement, at the end of the course you will be asked to write a final assignment, which will count for up to 30 points.
Active participation
Up to 10 extra points
The training team reserves the right to award up to 10 extra points for exceptional contributions / active participation throughout the course. Active participation gives an extra 10% if needed to get the Certificate of Achievement.
Certificate
Certificate of Achievement
Participants who successfully complete all assessments and the final assignment will receive a Certificate of Achievement.
Participation basics
What you need to take part
Learning materials and teaching are delivered online in English. The following requirements are essential to participate in this course:
- The ability to use and access a computer with internet
- Working knowledge of written English
- The availability to dedicate between 5 and 10 hours per week to the course
Timetable
Live sessions, week by week
An opening webinar in Week 1, then two live sessions per week, plus an additional session on Friday 30 October introducing the group work: 12 live sessions from 22 October to 27 November 2026. Times are shown as in the course agenda; where your local time differs, it is shown under each session.
Resource Persons
Meet the people behind the sessions
Experts and practitioners contributing to the course, as listed in the course agenda. Each person appears once, whichever sessions they contribute to.
Participants
Your learning community
Practitioners from different parts of the world and different backgrounds learn together on this course.
Participant directory
Simulation
Simulation: Within reach
A decision simulation on extending social protection to migrant workers.
Play Within Reach before the group work starts, ideally by Thursday 29 October. It takes about one hour. The group work is set in the same country, Solandra: in the simulation you decide alone, one case at a time; in the group work, your group designs a whole package, works out how to pay for it and defends it.
Feedback
Share your feedback
Your feedback on the course is welcome.
Questions about the course?
Contact the Programme on Social Protection, Governance and Tripartism (SPGT) at migration@itcilo.org.