Migration, Diversity and Welfare: Knowledges, Gaps and Synergies

by Lailah Alidu (UPWEB)

Welfare State Futures in collaboration with Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRIS) University of Birmingham organised a thematic workshop on the topic Migration, Diversity and Welfare: Knowledge, Gaps and Synergies. The workshop was held at the Institute for Research into Superdiversity at the University of Birmingham on the 5th and 6th of December, 2017. The workshop brought together academics working research projects in Europe under the theme migration, diversity and welfare. Some of the projects represented were UPWEB, MIFARE, MobileWelfare, HiNEWS, 4ls and TRANSWEL. This thematic workshop was co-ordinated by Prof Jenny Phillimore of UPWEB and Prof Anna Amelina of TRANSWEL. The aim of the workshop was to share knowledge, identify the gaps and create an opportunity to collaborate.

The workshop started with a welcoming note from Prof Jenny Phillimore of UPWEB, followed by presentations of the various projects from their leaders/representatives (UPWEB, MIFARE, MobileWelfare, HiNEWS, 4ls and TRANSWEL). There was also a session which involved speed networking where participants had the opportunity to meet each other and learn more about each other’s project. Speed-networking was followed with a thematic session involving discussions under the following groups: health, inequalities, mobilities, attitudes and behaviours. These areas were discussed in the context of issues pertaining to migration, diversity and welfare. Participants found these sessions very insightful and thought provoking as it helped them identify gaps in research and potential new areas of research to explore. Later in the evening participants had dinner at the University of Birmingham’s Astor Restaurant, which also encouraged further networking.

On the second day of the workshop, participants had the opportunity to present their individual projects during parallel sessions. The presentations for the parallel sessions were grouped under the following themes: Diversity and Belonging: Implications for Migrants’ Access to Social Security; The Role of Attitudes and Knowledge in Accessing Welfare; Access to Health in the Migration Process: Barriers and Challenges; Migration, Welfare and Social Inclusion; Welfare, Transnationality and Social Citizenship; Migration, Mobility and Communication in the European Context. There was also a discussion on emerging themes, and suggestions on further collaborations and publications.

For the full report and a selection of presented papers, please click here.