Perspectives AlterEgauZ at The University of Fribourg with Marie-Christine Ukelo-Mbolo Merga

Ian M. Cook; Svitlana Shynkarenko

Allegra Lab · Perspectives AlterEgauZ at The University of Fribourg with Marie-Christine Ukelo-Mbolo Merga

A transcript with links and references is currently being prepared and will appear here soon!

This is an episode of Displacing Universities. The theme music is World Histrionic Forum by Dhow Jones and the Mariana Trenchcoat. If you want to get in touch about anything, please drop a line to ian.cook@dcu.ie This podcast is part of a wider project ‘Displacing Universities – Refugee Voices for Higher Education in Europe’ funded as part of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action. Grant Agreement number 101154597. Hosted at Dublin City University. Image by Ibrar Mirzai.

Abstract: The Displacing University podcast series is a series of long form interviews with people who have set up, run or research education programmes at European universities for people who have experienced displacement, including refugees and asylum seekers. In this episode of Displacing Universities Svitlana and Ian speak with Marie-Christine Ukelo-Mbolo Merga about Perspectives AlterEgauZ* at the University of Fribourg.

Cite this article as: Cook, Ian M. & Svitlana Shynkarenko. March 2026. 'Perspectives AlterEgauZ at The University of Fribourg with Marie-Christine Ukelo-Mbolo Merga'. Allegra Lab. https://allegralaboratory.net/perspectives-alteregauz-at-the-university-of-fribourg-with-marie-christine-ukelo-mbolo-merga/

About The Authors

Ian M. Cook

I am an anthropologist whose focus includes urban India, scholarly podcasting, opening up higher education for displaced learners, and environmental (in)justice. I am convinced that research and higher education can only maintain scholarly excellence, political relevance and its critical edge by being open and accessible. This is something I seek to do at the anthropology publishing platform Allegra Lab, the refugee education initiative OLIve, through my teaching and research, and as a multimodal scholar, especially through podcasting.

Svitlana Shynkarenko

Anthropology can bring a balance. I hold a degree in medical psychology and led a project on sustainable clothing production, thus addressing 'the social body' through clothing. In anthropology, I shifted my focus to the concept of ‘feeding the social body’ with my master's thesis, exploring places of food redistribution for low-income individuals. To understand (as a former psychologist/current anthropologist) the social body of community and the politics beyond it is my passion for now.

Perspectives AlterEgauZ at The University of Fribourg with Marie-Christine Ukelo-Mbolo Merga

About The Authors

Ian M. Cook

Svitlana Shynkarenko

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