Surveying Forced Migration Research

The Refugee Studies Centre (RSC) is undertaking an "International Forced Migration Research Mapping Survey," with support from UNHCR and UK DFID. The aim is to promote greater collaboration among institutions and individuals working on forced migration issues who are involved in such activities as field research, evidence-based policy making, developing academic programmes, and international conferences.

As a first step towards achieving this goal, the RSC is inviting people to participate in a survey. The data from the survey will form the basis of a "global forced migration network, which will provide a member-driven forum for the development of creative approaches to capacity building, collaboration, and resource sharing." An online database will be built accordingly.

For more information about the mapping exercise and to complete the survey (either online or in Word format), visit the RSC web page for the project.

Other research networks/surveys of research:
- The Odysseus Network was set up to undertake studies of EU/European migration and asylum legislation. It is in the process of developing a European Forum of Research on Immigration and Asylum Law, and inviting interested parties to complete questionnaires about their interests and activities.

- The Scottish Refugee Research Network aims to "promote links between people researching refugee and asylum issues in Scotland and to promote research into refugee and asylum issues." A bibliography and a directory of members will be among the outputs.

- Integrating Ireland commissioned a "map of the research that has been carried out in Ireland on or with immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers and related issues." The resulting Guide was published in 2004. The aim is to update the guide on an ongoing basis to reflect new research.

Unfortunately, several similar initatives to promote research collaboration that were developed in the past have since been discontinued because of funding and resource constraints. Examples include:

- The European Migration Information Network produced a directory to facilitate linkages among researchers.

- The ICAR/UNHCR postgraduate network sought to promote linkages among postgraduates. The project included a members' database but this has been taken offline. The hope is that the network will be hosted by another academic institution.

- The IDP Research Network database was created several years ago as one means to "encourage researchers to address the research gaps in current understandings of displacement."

Posted in Web Sites/Tools and Publications.