Back The Euro-Mediterranean Research Network on Migration takes its first steps

The Euro-Mediterranean Research Network on Migration takes its first steps

EuroMedMig-ReNet, coordinated by GRITIM-UPF, was started into the 15th IMISCOE Annual Conference, that toke place from 2 to 4 July on the Ciutadella Campus.
06.07.2018

 

“The community of researchers in Europe cannot remain indifferent to the human and humanitarian dimension that we are living today in the Mediterranean”. With these words, Ricard Zapata-Barrero, GRITIM-UPF research group director, evaluated the results of the 15th IMISCOE Annual Conference (International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion), which he chaired.

The Congress, organized by Pompeu Fabra University through GRITIM-UPF, took place from 2 to 4 July on the Ciutadella campus, under the title “Europe, migrations and the Mediterranean: human mobility and intercultural challenges”. The meeting of the largest network of researchers in Europe in the field of migration and integration consisted of more than 130 sessions, including research panels, workshops on immigration, and work sessions.

“At this meeting we wanted to emphasize that there is a need for a research narrative and to create a political and social agenda between the north and the south, the result of an exchange of ideas and research between these two poles; for promoting the relationship between research, politics and society, through the exchange of knowledge and the joint construction of a global agenda”, said Ricard Zapata-Barrero.

The Conference has left an important mark, both due to the valuable academic exchange among the 600 participating researchers and to the launch of the Euro-Mediterranean Research Network on Migration (EuroMedMig-ReNet).

A network to promote research on migration among the countries of the Mediterranean

EuroMedMig-ReNet, which includes countries and research centres from the northern and southern Mediterranean, will be coordinated by GRITIM-UPF, with the support of IMISCOE and the Union for the Mediterranean. It aims to become a platform to facilitate joint work between research institutions of the south and of the north, encouraging the exchange of information and the building of knowledge on key issues related to migration and diversity in the Mediterranean region.

According to Ricard Zapata-Barrero, “the creation of this network will help to promote a coordinated approach for the entire region, to increase the mobility of researchers and students and to establish common platforms for data collection and analysis, as well as to make better use of the existing tools”. And he adds: “With the network, we have sowed the seed of action that will take shape and bear fruit in the coming years”. In addition, together with the UpM, it has been agreed to create five scholarships for young researchers in the south to attend a conference.

Ricard Zapata-Barrero also highlights some of the other main issues dealt with at the meeting: “The issues relating to refugees have been central and have been analysed from a multidisciplinary perspective, according to the philosophy of IMISCOE, all fundamental aspects with regard to the social and political agenda”, he emphasizes.

Other key issues have been addressed at the round tables: intercultural relations between north and south, with the coordination of Barcelona City Council; the research carried out by IEMed, with experts from north and south, and the work of the United Nations University and of La Caixa, which presented their intercultural programmes in more than 25 cities in the state.

The 15th IMISCOE Conference enjoyed the collaboration of the Union for the Mediterranean (UpM), the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), the United Nations University (Institute on Globalisation, Culture and Mobility) and the La Caixa Banking Foundation, and the support of the Department of Labour, Social Affairs and Families of the Government of Catalonia, Barcelona City Council, Barcelona Provincial Council and Springer.

Video summary of the Congress in Youtube

 

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