Dr. Leali Osmančević on Erasmus+ Teaching Mobility in Rome

As part of the Erasmus+ teaching mobility programme, Leali Osmančević, PhD, from the University Department of Communication Studies at the Catholic University of Croatia, stayed at Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta in Rome from 13 to 17 April 2026. She delivered guest lectures for students of social sciences and humanities titled “Framing Migration: Media, Otherness, and the Construction of ‘Us’ and ‘Them’” and “How Media Tells Stories of Migration: Qualitative Approaches to Media Analysis,” which also included a research practicum.

The first lecture, held on 13 April, focused on the role of media in shaping public perceptions of migrants and other vulnerable groups. Through concepts such as stereotypes, framing, and the construction of “otherness,” students analyzed how media narratives influence social boundaries and attitudes toward “us” and “them.” Particular attention was given to representations of migrants in European media, including comparative examples from the Croatian context, alongside a discussion on the ethical dimensions of reporting on migration.
 

The second lecture, held on 16 and 17 April, introduced students to qualitative methods of media content and text analysis. Using approaches such as qualitative content analysis, discourse analysis, and narrative analysis, students explored how language, structure, and narrative patterns shape the understanding of migrants’ roles and positions in society. As part of the lecture, a research practicum enabled students to analyze concrete media examples, compare different European reporting approaches—including Croatian media—and decode patterns of media-constructed reality in Italian and Croatian contexts.
 

Both lectures were delivered within courses in general sociology and social research methodology led by Prof. Stellamarina Donato (General Sociology, Degree Course in Psychological Sciences and Techniques) and Prof. Cristiana Di Pietro (General Sociology, Social Research Methodology Laboratory, Degree Course in Educational and Training Sciences).

Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta is one of Italy’s notable universities, founded in 1939 and headquartered in Rome. It offers programmes in social sciences, humanities, and economics, fostering interdisciplinarity and strong international cooperation through Erasmus+ and other mobility programmes. Today, it hosts a large number of domestic and international students and actively contributes to the development of the European higher education system.

More information about the guest lectures is available at the link.