Welcome to the podcast “Migration Talks”. This podcast presents and discusses migration research conducted by VUB and non-VUB scholars in an easily understandable language. The podcast is organised by BIRMM, in cooperation with the Jean Monnet Chair ‘Expand – Understanding Resilience in EU Justice and Home Affairs’. Our podcast is now also available on Spotify!
Podcast 12: Loren Landau Reflects on migration studies and migration to african cities
Migration Talks hosts a guest episode from The Migration Podcast, a podcast produced by IMISCOE, the largest interdisciplinary network of scholars in the field of migration.
In this episode we hear Silindile Mlilo interview Loren Landau about his latest research on African cities. He talks about how patterns of migration to cities in Africa is distinct from urbanization in other parts of the world. He has been looking the regulation of space and how migrants relate to cities, as well as issues around ethics of inclusion and visibility. Loren also talks about how he sees the current state of migration studies and the importance of keeping space for research that shifts perspectives away from donor priorities. Listen to the full episode on Soundcloud or Spotify!
Podcast 11: One stop shop? Insights on migrants' use of the single permit
In this episode of Migration Talks, we discuss labour migration and the use of the Single Permit in Belgium and Europe. With a Single Permit, 3rd country nationals can get a residence permit and work permit for a European country through one single procedure. How are migrants experiencing this way of living and working in Europe? What are the opportunities and pitfalls of the system? Hannah Vermaut discusses with BIRMM researcher Amy Weatherburn, and two representatives of civil society, Jan Knockaert (Fairwork Belgium) and Aurore De Keyzer (CSC). Listen to the full episode on Soundcloud or Spotify!
Podcast 10: The impact of migration narratives on EU policymaking
In this podcast episode, we explore how migration narratives shape the upcoming European elections and influence policymaking in Brussels. These narratives are central to discussions and policies across Europe, especially as far-right parties amplify them as security threats for electoral gains. What are the prevailing migration narratives within the EU, and how do they impact the policymaking processes of the European Union? These and more questions will be answered by our guests Florian, Co-director of BIRMM and Omar Ba who is a community organizer, activist and politician. This episode is moderated by VUB researcher Gaia Romeo. Listen to the full episode on Soundcloud or Spotify!
Podcast 9: A Historical overview of Belgium's Migration Policy (in Dutch)
In this episode we talk to VUB researcher Ellen Debackere to talk about her book “Welcome to Antwerp? Antwerp's immigration policy, 1830-1880”. This book is a historical account of how a Belgian city dealt with the arrival and integration of newcomers. Did people in the 19th century have similar thoughts and concerns about migration? What can we learn from a historical look at migration? These questions will be addressed in this episode. Listen to the full episode on Soundcloud or Spotify!
Podcast 8: EVERYDAY SEXISM & RACISM IN THE IVORY TOWER: THE STRUGGLES & RESISTANCE OF EARLY CARREER RESEARCHERS IN BELGIUM
In this episode, we discuss the struggles faced by early career researchers in Belgium. We discuss this with Dr. Dounia Bourabain, who defended her PhD in September 2022 titled 'Everyday Sexism and Racism in the Ivory Tower. The struggles and resistance of early career researchers in Belgium'. In her thesis, she clearly debunks the myth of the university as the ideal meritocratic institution, wherein individuals can succeed and thrive on the basis of their individual merit, hard work, and skills. Dounia's PhD, however, also touches upon a pressing societal challenge, namely, how to foster real equality in the ivory tower. Joining the conversation are Ilke Adam, co-director of the BIRMM research center, and Sibel Top, Coordinator of the BIRMM research center.
Podcast 7: THE IMPORTANCE OF HERITAGE LANGUAGES AND MULTILINGUALISM IN BELGIUM
Do you know what heritage languages are and why they are so important? In this episode, Jianwei Xu, Rik Vosters, Sibel Top (Coordinator of the BIRMM research center), and Ilke Adam (co-director of the BIRMM research center) discuss multilingualism in Belgium, typical misconceptions around language learning, and great ideas for future teachers
Podcast 6: Over- or Underpopulation? Mobilization and Persistence of Malthusian Framings in Migration Debates
In today's episode, we discuss the idea of overpopulation. Where and how it originated, why it is so persistent, and how it got to be linked to migration, anti-migrant discourses, and migration policies.
We discuss this topic with Soumaya Majdoub, who is focusing on these topics as a Ph.D. researcher at Interface Demography, and at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. She just published a truly inspiring and eye-opening essay called 'Consuming like rabbits', which is now available in Dutch from ASP. Joining the conversation are Florian Trauner, co-director of the BIRMM research center at VUB, and Sibel Top, Coordinator of the BIRMM research center.
Podcast 5: What NEETs need: hoe kan het beleid jongeren met een migratieachtergrond beter bereiken?
In deze aflevering gaan we met Mariam Ait Hmeid (beleidsmedewerker LEVL) en Andrew Crosby (onderzoeker BIRMM) in gesprek over jongeren met een migratieachtergrond en de moeilijkheden die ze kunnen tegenkomen om een plaats te vinden op de arbeidsmarkt of in de maatschappij.
Vanuit het beleid wil men maar al te graag de afstand tot de arbeidsmarkt voor deze jongeren dichten, zeker nu, in tijden van arbeidsmarktkrapte. Maar wat gebeurt er daar eigenlijk? Kunnen we die kloof verklaren en waarom gaat het specifiek over jongeren met een migratieachtergrond? Werkt zo’n beleid? En ook, welke ervaringen hebben jongeren zelf? In deze aflevering vertellen Mariam Ait Hmeid en Andrew Crosby wat de belangrijkste uitdagingen zijn en wat het beleid beter kan doen.
Je kan de resultaten van het project van Mariam Ait Hmeid over en met werkloze jongeren met een migratieachtergrond vanaf december raadplegen op de website van LEVL. Je kan meer lezen over het onderzoek van Andrew Crosby en Géraldine André over NEET-jongeren in Brussel in dit artikel.
Podcast 4: The EU's Temporary Protection Regime for Ukrainians: How does it work?
In this episode, we talk about the EU’s response to the displacement of Ukrainians. The EU member states have opened their borders and welcomed Ukrainians. The EU as a whole has taken the decision to provide all newly arrived Ukrainians with a temporary protection status.
This has been a historic decision. Thus far, the EU’s asylum system was based on an individual assessment of protection claims. This will no longer be the case for Ukrainians – they will be protected as a group in the EU. What are the implications of such a temporary protection regime? What does this decision imply for the EU’s asylum policies at large?
We discuss this with Hanne Beirens, the director of Migration Policy Institute Europe, and Florian Trauner, co-director of the BIRMM research centre at VUB.
Podcast 3: Racisme en discriminatie in de zorg
In deze aflevering van Migration Talks hebben we het over racisme en discriminatie in de zorg. De covid-pandemie maakte duidelijk dat er ongelijke uitkomsten in de zorg en gezondheidszorg voor etnische minderheden zijn. Is er sprake van racisme en discriminatie in de zorg? Hoe uit zich dat, waar komt het vandaag en wat kunnen we ertegenover stellen? We gaan erover in gesprek met dr. Saloua Berdai Chaouni (onderzoeker aan het departement Psychologie en Educatiewetenschappen van VUB) en Enata Mushimiyimana (studente Farmaceutische Wetenschappen aan VUB, mede-oprichtster van AfroMedica).
Podcast 2: Big data and artificial intelligence for migration research
In the second episode, we discuss the potential and the risks of using big data and artificial intelligence (AI) for migration research. Asylum and migration authorities all over the world start to use more and more big data and AI. The European Asylum Support Office for instance uses machine learning to predict pressure on the asylum administrations of EU member states.
It’s not only authorities that look at the potential of big data. New data sources such as mobile phones, digital applications and social media, as well as satellites can help creating new and more detailed insights into human mobility. Should researchers use these opportunities? Or do they risk repeating or contributing to the downsides of big data – such as a loss of privacy?
Florian Trauner (BIRMM co-director and JM Chairholder) welcomes Tuba Bircan (research professor at Interface Demography - VUB) to discuss these questions.
Podcast 1: Receiving and accommodating refugees in European cities : what shall – and shall not – be done?
In the first episode, we discuss how refugees are received and accommodated in European cities. This is a topical issue in Brussels, which has witnessed a reception crisis. In late 2021, refugees had to sleep on the streets in front of Belgium’s biggest reception centre due to a lack of accommodation. The Belgian federal instances failed to provide more place until the city of Brussels stepped in and offered hotel rooms. This situation raises question of wider relevance: Who is responsible for welcoming and accommodating refugees? Are there differences in the ways in which this is handled across Europe?
Hannah Vermaut (BIRMM coordinator) and Florian Trauner (BIRMM co-director and JM Chairholder) welcome two VUB researchers, who are highly qualified to discuss these questions: René Kreichauf (Cosmopolis Centre for Urban Research - VUB) and Louise Hantson (project researcher at BIRMM for the Whole COMM project).
Want to read more on René Kreichauf's research?
Kreichauf, R. & Mayer, M. (2021). Negotiating urban solidarities: multiple agencies and contested meanings in the making of solidarity cities, Urban Geography, DOI: 10.1080/02723638.2021.1890953 Kreichauf & Mayer (2021).pdf (766.59 KB) "pdf" Kreichauf, R., Rosenberger, O. and Strobel, P. (2020). The Transformative Power of Urban Arrival Infrastructures: Berlin’s Refugio and Dong Xuan Center. Urban Planning, 5(3), 44-54. Kreichauf et al. (2020).pdf (954.15 KB) "pdf"
Kreichauf, R. (2018). From forced migration to forced arrival: the campization of refugee accommodation in European cities. Comparative Migration Studies, 6(7), https://doi.org/10.1186/s40878-017-0069-8 Kreichauf (2018).pdf (4.65 MB) "pdf"
You can follow Louise Hantson's research on the Whole-Comm website and you can read an interview on what the Whole-Comm research project is about.