This is the recording of a conversation between Espoir Njei and Dawn River. The conversation took place on Tuesday 28th April 2020 - approx. one month into lockdown. Espoir and Dawn built a friendship through their shared commitment to supporting LGBTIQ migrants fleeing persecution. Espoir is a lesbian asylum seeker from the Cameroon currently in... Continue Reading →
The migrant city at the time of Covid-19: Lyndsey Stonebridge talks to Les Back
Today we are launching the first episode of IRiS new Zoomcast series on mobility and immobility. "Conversations with Iris" will be a space where we will be in dialogue with fellow researchers, teachers, writers, migrants, refugees, activists, community organisers, artists and policy makers on issues related to the current pandemic and much more. It is... Continue Reading →
Migration and diversity in the UK and Japan: new NODE working papers offer comparative insights
In preparation for the forthcoming NODE conference (2-4 December) in Tokyo, we are launching a series of Working Papers that examines a range of issues related to migration and diversity in Japan and the UK through a comparative lens. NODE 1: Ozgen, C., Liu-Farrer, G., Cole, M., Green, A. (2019) ‘Economic Migration in the UK... Continue Reading →
Thinking Through Policy Alternatives for Addressing the Needs of SGBV Survivors
Dr Saime Ozcurumez , a SEREDA Project Researcher from Bilkent University, Turkey, discusses policy alternatives for addressing the needs of SGBV survivors.
SGBV across migrant and refugee journeys: Early lessons learnt from Tunisia
SEREDA Researcher, Sandra Pertek, shares her learning about the nature of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) experienced by her respondents in Tunisia.
Nationalism & new comers: Migration Matters video series featuring Nando Sigona
#rethinkingnationalism is a twelve bite-sized (1-9 min) video series that offers academic insight and public perspectives on nationalism, belonging, and diversity in Europe today. The series produced by Migration Matters is part of Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange, a ground-breaking project that enables youth in Europe and the Southern Mediterranean to engage in meaningful intercultural experiences online.... Continue Reading →
The legacy of migration: IRiS seminar series
The programme for IRiS seminar series for the first term of the new academic year is now available. We start on 22nd October at 2pm with Professor Gracia Liu-Farrer of Waseda University, Japan. She will present a paper based on her forthcoming book on Immigrant Japan: Mobility and Belonging in an Ethno-nationalist Society. It is hard... Continue Reading →
Windrush generation is not alone – children of EU citizens could be next
by Nando Sigona, Deputy IRiS Director, University of Birmingham Theresa May, the UK prime minister, and Amber Rudd, home secretary, have both apologised for the distress caused by the treatment of the so-called “Windrush generation”, in the face of mounting pressure from MPs and the wider public. Having been accused by the Home Office of residing in the UK without... Continue Reading →
Another dangerous ‘National Us’: you can’t have a more integrated society in a hostile environment | openDemocracy
Comment piece by Nando Sigona in openDemocracy. The UK Government’s strategy is not for an integrated society, focusing on what government and society could and should do, but for integrated 'communities', code word for everyone else. Source: Another dangerous ‘National Us’: you can’t have a more integrated society in a hostile environment | openDemocracy
Perspectives on how government can boost migrant’s English Language skills.
by Professor Jenny Phillimore, Director of Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS) Boosting English language is one of the policy proposals outlined in DHCLG’s Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper. There is no doubt that being able to speak, read and write fluently the language of the country in which you reside is important for integration. ... Continue Reading →

