About Destination Europe

Destination Europe is an engaging discussion platform that introduces users to migration and integration decision-making. They take up roles of various actors involved at the EU, national and city level and immerse themselves in different future scenarios about migration. These stories are based on evidence and illustrate potential outcomes of migration policy decisions for different groups of migrants such as asylum seekers, labour and irregular migrants and citizens of EU countries where migrants settle.

Educators can face difficulties when teaching about migration decision-making and its impacts on migrants and host societies. It is currently a highly politicised topic. Young people, their families and friends have different opinions and migration-related experiences. Public debate that shapes these opinions is not always well grounded in facts and can lack balanced representation of different points of view. This innovative learning tool uses role play and other game mechanisms that minimise potential tensions among users.

The players will:

  • Experience the complexity of migration decision-making at different levels: EU, national, city.
  • Get to know the positions and interests of different actors: EU and national policymakers, civil society, employers, migrant associations, different sections of EU public.
  • Consider possible impacts of migration and integration policies on different groups of migrants: asylum seekers and refugees, irregular migrants, labour migrants.
  • Develop 21st century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication and leadership.

The educators and trainers will get:

  • An innovative learning and training tool that teaches and raises awareness about a politically and socially salient issue.
  • After reading the instructions in the Rule Book or watching a short intstructions video, the players should be able to use the tool independently without the need for teachers’ and trainers’ direct supervision.
  • Customized background material that quickly introduces the tool and the topics covered in it and guides players towards additional preparatory work to enhance their learning experience.

Game design & content: Dr. Alice Szczepanikova with contribution from Gamesandlearning.nl

Graphic design & artwork: Heiko Günther

Destination Europe was developed together with migration experts from various European countries joined in the European Migration Network. It was tested with over 230 users including teachers, young people, migration experts, policymakers, and practitioners.

  • 4-6 players aged 16+
  • 1.5 hours

Destination Europe will be gradually translated into different European languages. With the help of European Migration Network’s National Contact Points, printed copies will be disseminated to secondary schools. The print-and-play version of the tool (downloadable below) will also be made freely available online in different languages.

If you are a secondary school teacher, contact your country’s EMN National Contact Point to find out about access to printed copies.

If you want to use the print-and-play version: 

  1. Print the content listed below by following the instructions on the first page of each document
  2. Cut if needed
  3. Fold if needed
  4. Play by following the instructions in the Rule Book

Destination Europe is available in two regional editions: 1) Northern, western and southern EU and 2) Central and eastern EU.

Migration and integration issues are specific to each country based on its geography, economy, history and politics. For practical reasons, we could not produce more than two editions. To make the scenarios and the storyline relatable in different parts of Europe, we developed these two regional editions. They reflect some of the different realities in the two regions of Europe. 90 percent of the content is the same in both editions. They only differ in terms of migrant personas, some of the roles’ descriptions and a few migration events. If you are uncertain about which regional edition to use, contact your country’s EMN National Contact Point.

Instructional video

This video enables you to set up Destination Europe and explains how to proceed with the tool and timing of each step, including a follow-up discussion at the end of the session. Moreover, it provides answers to typical questions that emerge when using the tool for the first time.

Download the print-and-play version

Northern, western and southern EU edition

Click on the icons to download documents for printing

1. Cards: cut and play                 

2. Roles: cut, fold and play

3. Rule Book: read and follow the instructions

4. Map: put on the table while playing

5. Chips: cut out and use for voting and tracking migrant and EU public outcomes

6. Online session: PPT and Excel record sheet for facilitation of online sessions with Destination Europe

Central and eastern EU edition

Click on the icons to download documents for printing

1. Cards: cut and play               

2. Roles: cut, fold and play

3. Rule Book: read and follow the instructions

4. Map: put on the table while playing

5. Chips: cut out and use for voting and tracking migrant and EU public outcomes

6. Online session: PPT and Excel record sheet for facilitation of online sessions with Destination Europe

Download additional material for educators and trainers

Glossary of key terms used in Destination Europe
Background material for educators and trainers
The following language versions are available on the website
Other languages coming soon