The IMISCOE Research Network has awarded the Maria Ioannis Baganha Distinguished Dissertation Award annually since 2010 to stimulate and recognise excellent PhD research in the field of migration, integration and social cohesion in Europe. The competition is open to all PhD recipients whose dissertations were defended within the 24-month period before the submission deadline (early February each year). Applicants are invited to apply on their own behalf, or may be nominated by their dissertation supervisors.

The late Maria Ioannis Baganha was a leading migration scholar at the Centre for Social Studies (CES) at the University of Coimbra. She was one of IMISCOE’s founding members and the chair of its Board of Directors until she passed away in June 2009. To commemorate her work in the field of migration studies and particularly for the network, the IMISCOE Board of Directors has dedicated the IMISCOE dissertation award to her.