WELCOME to our second quarterly migration newsletter, keeping you up-to-date on our migration activities, events and publications at UNU-MERIT and the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance. | ||
FORTHCOMING EVENTS |
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Focusing on Future Generations: from Africa to Europe Maastricht University will host the final conference of the ‘Transnational Child Raising Arrangements between Africa and Europe (TCRAf-Eu)’ project from 26-29 March 2013. We are also planning an international debate later this year on the outcomes and added value of international dialogues on migration and development (e.g. the Global Forum on Migration and Development and the United Nations High-Level Dialogue). |
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European Policy Debate on Afghan Migration: Call for Papers As part of the IS Academy Project, we plan to hold a European Policy debate on Afghan migration in Brussels from 8-9 April 2013. The first day of the event will focus on the state-of-the-art in research on migration from and in Afghanistan. The second day will be a policy debate on return migration to Afghanistan and unaccompanied minors in Europe from Afghanistan. The results of the first day will inform the discussions at the policy debate on the second day. Click here for the call for papers. |
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Workshop on Migration and Entrepreneurship: Call for Papers To review the state-of-the-art on links between migration and entrepreneurship, the Maastricht Schools of Management and Governance will hold a two-day workshop on 30-31 May 2013. On the eve of the conference, 29 May 2013, we will also hold an International Policy Debate. This will give policy makers, academics, and relevant institutions a platform to share their research on remittances and entrepreneurship. Download the call here. |
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Session on Survey Research in Developing Countries Drs Melissa Siegel (UM/UNU) and Evelyn Ersanilli (International Migration Institute, University of Oxford) will lead a session at the European Survey Association conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia from 15-19 July 2013. Focusing on ‘Survey research in developing countries’, they will explore the challenges of carrying out surveys under difficult conditions while also discussing best practices. |
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UPCOMING TRAINING |
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Migration Studies Online Course Our ‘Introduction to Migration Studies’ online course, designed for those who want to boost their knowledge of migration without following a full-time programme, began on 7 January 2013. People who complete this course have the opportunity to take other online migration courses, including ‘Migration and Remittance Effects’ from March to April 2013 and ‘Comparative Migration Policy’ from May to June 2013. If you missed this round, the introductory course will also run in July and August of 2013. |
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Migration Management Diploma Programme The Migration Management Diploma Programme, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is specially designed for practitioners and civil servants from developing countries who are either working on or interested in migration management. Ten scholarships of €7200 are available to eligible participants each year. Applicants from qualifying countries can request a scholarship. A brochure and online application form are available on our website. This year’s application deadline is 15 February 2013. |
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PAST EVENTS |
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Migration Seminars Each year we host a series of Migration Seminars, providing a platform for researchers to present their work in the field of migration. Our first migration seminar of the year was held on 16 January 2013, when Dr. Victor Cebotari (FASoS) presented a comparative paper on child emotional well-being. The next seminar is set for 20 February 2013 (speaker TBC). To join our mailing list and get invitations to future seminars please email: michaella.vanore@maastrichtuniversity.nl |
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MIDWEB Conference in Sarajevo As part of the MIDWEB project in the Western Balkans, Dr Melissa Siegel gave a presentation at a conference tagged ‘Skills Transfer Programmes and their Contribution to Development’ in Sarajevo on 14 November 2012. The conference aimed to help governments to develop, roll out and improve diaspora skills transfer programmes tailored to the needs of each country. |
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International Civic Integration Network The International Civic Integration Network is a knowledge exchange platform based on a series of working visits to France, Germany and the UK. Dr Melissa Siegel recently attended the third visit in Germany. The project, sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Internal Affairs and implemented in partnership with Panteia/Research voor Beleid, will produce a final report addressing knowledge gaps and network questions. The final meeting is set for 21 March 2013. |
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS |
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The Impact of Migration on Elderly Left Behind in Moldova This paper aims to empirically assess the well-being of elderly people in Moldova left behind by migrant household members. Using data from a nationally-representative, large-scale household survey carried out between September 2011 and February 2012 we look at various dimensions of elderly well-being. The results suggest that, contrary to popular belief, migration does not play a significant role in shaping the well-being of elderly people. Read more here. |
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Worker Remittances and Government Behaviour in the Receiving Countries The impact of worker remittances on savings, taxes and public expenditures is the focus of this paper. Key observations include: governments of the poorer sample raise less taxes in the short-term but more in the long-run and spend more money on education when remittances come in; in the richer sample they raise less taxes and spend less on education but this is almost compensated by the response of expenditure on education to higher savings. Read the full paper here. |
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Migration and Multi-dimensional Poverty in Moldovan Communities This paper aims to understand the links between migration and poverty at the community level, using data collected from 180 Moldova communities in the second half of 2011. The focus includes four dimensions of poverty at the community level: infrastructure, education, livelihood and health. The study finds that communities with higher rates of migration are significantly associated with a higher level of deprivation in infrastructure and the multi-dimensional index. Read more here. |
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IS Academy Policy Briefs Besides our working papers, the Migration Group has also been working on a number of Migration Policy Briefs for the IS Academy project. Two policy briefs were published in January 2013. Policy Brief 12 focuses on Moldovan female migrants in Italy to see whether their expectations of migration match their experience. The role of migrant networks in information sharing is of key interest in this brief. Policy Brief 13 examines the engagement of the Syrian Diaspora in Germany in peacebuilding which is significant in the context of the Arab Spring. |
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Image Credits: UN Photo / M.Kobayash; Flickr / isafmedia; Flickr / leonfishman; Sonja Fransen; Katie Kuschminder; IRIN Photo; Flickr / marktristram / Flickr / syriafreedom; IOM | ||
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