We are pleased to share the 16th edition of the IMISCOE Bulletin, bringing together the latest news, research initiatives, and activities from across the IMISCOE network and the wider migration research community.
The IMISCOE Bulletin serves as a key communication platform connecting IMISCOE’s Member Institutes, individual members of the network, and the wider community interested in migration research. Through contributions from the IMISCOE External Affairs Committee (EAC), the Network Office, Standing Committees, and the IMISCOE PhD Network, the Bulletin highlights the diversity of scholarship, collaboration, and knowledge exchange that characterises the network.
Among the highlights of this edition is an insightful editorial by S. Irudaya Rajan, Chair of the International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD), entitled Ethical Recruitment and Migrant Rights in the UK and the Gulf: The Limits of Soft Law. The editorial examines the limitations of voluntary frameworks in addressing migrant workers’ exploitation, recruitment debt, and employer-tied visas.
This edition also looks ahead to the upcoming IMISCOE Forum in Agadir, Morocco, under the theme Promoting Afro-European Mediterranean Dialogue: Shifting Geographies of Migration. Hosted by the Faculty of Languages, Arts and Social Sciences at Ibn Zohr University in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Research Group on Immigration (GRITIM-UPF) at Universitat Pompeu Fabra and the Euro-Mediterranean Research Network on Migration (EuroMedMig), the Forum will provide a space for African and European scholars to exchange perspectives and reconsider established approaches to migration. Its programme features keynote lectures, panels, workshops, plenary sessions, and a documentary screening, encouraging dialogue across geographical, disciplinary, and institutional boundaries.
We are also delighted to introduce two new institutes that recently joined the IMISCOE community. Pedro Góis presents The Observatory of Migration in Portugal, and Anatolie Cosciug introduces the West University of Timișoara (UVT) in Romania.
Moreover, this issue brings you updates from our Standing Committees, news from the IMISCOE PhD Network and PhD Academy, the latest episodes of the Migration Podcast and the latest Open Access titles in the IMISCOE book series. In the “Voices Outside Academia” section, anthropologist and documentary filmmaker Sine Plambech reflects on the relationship between migration research and visual storytelling through her film RESCUE.
Together, these contributions offer a snapshot of the dynamism and diversity of the IMISCOE community. They reflect the importance of connecting research with wider societal debates, strengthening collaboration across regions, and creating opportunities for knowledge exchange between scholars at different career stages and across different research contexts.
On behalf of the IMISCOE Network Office and the External Affairs Committee, we extend our sincere thanks to all contributors to this edition and to everyone whose work and engagement continue to strengthen the network.
We hope you enjoy Bulletin 16 and invite you to share it widely, helping to amplify the impact of IMISCOE’s research, collaborations, and activities across the globe.
Daniela Vintila and Jean-Michel Lafleur (IMISCOE Coordinators)
Ricard Zapata-Barrero (IMISCOE External Affairs Committee Chair)
Carole Wenger and Valkyria Dantas Rattmann (IMISCOE Communication)