Week 4: Systems Thinking

Iceberg Activity

TEAM 68
Abhinav Joshi
Adesewa Popoola
Angie Daniela Acevedo Lozano
Archanaben Oza
Hyunjeong Cho
Kevin Joshua Edwin Demalo

Humber College, IGS

Instructor. Vjola Knomi

July 14th, 2023

MEETING TYPE: SYSTEMS THINKING, ICEBERG ACTIVITY
MEETING DATE: June 28, 2023

ATTENDEES: Abhinav Joshi, Adesewa Popoola, Angie Daniela Acevedo Lozan, Archanaben Oza,
Hyunjeong Cho, Kevin Joshua Edwin Demalo

ABSENTEES: N/L

After discussion about some different topics that we are afraid off in our owns hometowns and our
society, we took the decision of make this assignment about the migration, since all of us are immigrants
in this country, and have one common thing in our lives which is the fact that we all are here looking for
new and better opportunities, we are working hard on our professional skills, knowledge and building
our dreams day by day, with the expectation that it will give us and our community a better future.

We will make use of the iceberg model to work through the layers of the problem we have chosen.

The Iceberg Model below identifies four basic levels:

Level 1 – Event:

To start this report, firstly is important to understand that migration is when the people move from one
place to another, and It drives growth and development for both origin and destination countries or
cities, in addition to enable opportunities for individuals, including employment, skills acquisition, and
improved living conditions. The below concepts define the differences that can be seeing in the
migration term:

• Internal migration: moving within a state, country, or continent.

• External migration: moving to a new state, country, or continent.
• Emigration: leaving one country to move to another.
• Immigration: moving into a new country
• Return migration: moving back to where you came from
• Seasonal migration: moving with each season or in response to labor or climate conditions
National Geographic, (n.d).

An overview of global migration from various perspectives such as economics, society, and security. The
phenomenon of migration is undergoing significant changes in scale, direction, demographics, and
frequency. By studying these, we can comprehend the evolving nature of migration and identify long-
term trends influenced by historical and recent events (UNESCO, 2023)

In 2020, the global estimate indicates that there were approximately 281 million international migrants,
which accounts for 3.6% of the world's population. It's important to note that this represents a small
minority, as most people still reside in their country of birth. Additionally, a significant number of people
migrate within their own countries rather than across borders.
However, these estimates focus on migrant populations and not actual movement events. The COVID-19
pandemic has emphasized the relationship between migration and mobility, as travel restrictions have
led to unprecedented limitations on movement worldwide. As of July 2021, many countries were re-
imposing or strengthening travel restrictions due to the circulation of virus strains, posing a global health
crisis that challenges the collective resilience of nations in a way not seen in the previous century.

Level 2 - Patterns and trends

According to UN Desa (2020, as cited in McAuliffe & Triandafyllidou, 2021) the number of international
migrants has increased over the past 50 years. In 2020, around 281 million people lived in a country
other than their birth country, three times more than in 1970. The impact of COVID-19 on migration is
difficult to assess, but it is estimated that it may have reduced the growth in international migrants by
around two million in 2020.

Europe is the largest destination for international migrants with 87 million migrants (30.9% of the total),
followed closely by Asia with 86 million migrants (30.5%), Northern America 59 million migrants (20.9%),
Africa 25 million migrants (9%), and finally Latin America and the Caribbean which experienced the
highest growth rate, doubling their migrant population from 7 million to 15 million in the past 15 years,
accounting for 5.3% of all international migrants. Oceania is home to approximately 9 million migrants
(3.3% of the total) (McAuliffe & Triandafyllidou, 2021)

Level 3 - Structured of the System

The structural elements of the immigration system include policies, laws, and institutions that regulate
and govern migration. This includes immigration laws, border control measures, visa systems, and
integration programs. These structural components form the visible part of the iceberg, as they are
tangible and observable aspects of the immigration system.

With the statement before we can notice that many individuals face difficulties due to visa restrictions
when attempting to pursue a better future in their desired destination. Tragically, numerous deaths
occur during migration attempts, particularly through clandestine routes at sea or remote areas to avoid
detection, resulting in often unfound remains.

Level 4 - Mental Models

The mental models associated with immigration are the underlying beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions
that shape how individuals and societies perceive and understand immigration. These mental models
can be influenced by cultural, historical, and social factors. They encompass notions of identity, national
security, economic impacts, cultural assimilation, and perceptions of "us" versus "them." These mental
models often remain hidden beneath the surface but have a significant influence on public discourse,
policy-making, and individual attitudes towards immigration.

In countries with significant social and economic challenges, the perception of the system is that
corruption exists, and there is a lack of support and trust in governments. The income disparity
continues to widen, leading to increased hunger and denial of basic education and fundamental rights.
There is a belief that in other first-world countries, access to these resources is available. Migration is
always driven by the search for daily improvement and better opportunities.

In addition, the social media's influence grows, there is a rise in individuals encouraging their audience
to consider migration to address the social, demographic, and economic challenges stemming from the
COVID-19 pandemic.

• What did you notice about this problem?

It is evident that over time, migration can increase due to the challenges faced by nations at an
international level because of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as social, demographic, and inflationary
issues.

• What type of things would create positive changes? You may also consider the ways that the
various levels of the problem interact and connect with each other.

Most of these issues can be addressed through the intervention of international entities that defend
human rights and equity, along with the eradication of corruption and the improvement of relationships
between countries. This would facilitate the free movement of individuals without jeopardizing their
lives or the well-being of the places they seek to reach.

• What interactions can we see between various layers of the problem?

There is a strong connection between what is visible and what lies behind migration; however, these are
often aspects not in the public eye. Consequently, even with projects or laws implemented to facilitate
the free movement of people, the power of social media and the ignorance of some individuals due to
their social conditions create a significant barrier to change.

• How do the events connect with and contribute to the patterns, etc.?

Global migration patterns have consistently been driven by the same principle: nobody leaves their
family and customs behind simply because they feel they don't fit in. The decision to migrate is always
motivated by the pursuit of a better future. However, this undertaking is inherently challenging from the
moment the decision is made, as there is limited global support in this field. Numerous barriers continue
to hinder the process of migration.

Indeed, the patterns of migration are now being shaped by the new consequences brought about by
the external factor of COVID-19. The pandemic has exacerbated existing problems and challenges,
adding additional complexities to the migration process. It has created new barriers and hurdles for
individuals seeking to migrate, further impacting global migration patterns.
 References

McAuliffe, M. & A. Triandafyllidou (eds.), 2021. World Migration Report 2022: Migration and migrants
global overview. International Organization for Migration (IOM), Geneva.
https://publications.iom.int/books/world-migration-report-2022

National Geographic, (n.d). Introduction to human migration.

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/introduction-human-migration/

UNESCO, (2023). Migration and inclusive societies. Retrieved from https://www.unesco.org/en/no-

racism-no-discrimination/migration National Geographic Society. (2015, August 7).