Institute for Migration and Development Research (IMDR)
Science and research represent one of the most dynamic domains of human activities nowadays. European Polytechnic Institute (EPI) decided to reflect this trend through establishment of a new „Institute for Migration and Development (IMDR)”. The interest domains of IMDR, migration and development, belong to the most relevant ones in the whole society. The following text introduces short-term and long-term objectives of the newly established IMDR, which has ambitions to become an important player on the field of research interest.
Substantiation of IMDR establishment
Contemporary world is characteristic by high dynamics of changes, proceeding at all geographical levels. The phenomenon of migration belongs to the most important processes in this way with impacts on socio-economic, environmental, cultural and political structures of both, migrants’ places of origin and new destinations. Simultaneously, the discourse of development is generally perceived as a desirable way to follow. Thus, research on relations between migration and development becomes well founded. Nevertheless, the reality seems to be rather different. A lot of studies and scientific articles have to contend, especially with regard to the lack of empirical data, a need of a further research on the relations between migration and development without formulation of straightforward or complex conclusions. Simultaneously, empirical studies prompt to repeat the same types of research to verify conclusions on the meta-analytical basis. Thus, a wide space for IMDR research activities opens. With regard to the facts given above, IMDR has a unique chance to become an important institution of the domains in the Czech Republic and simultaneously a relevant partner at the international scale.
Domains of IMDR research activities
In the long-term outlook, IMDR research activities will focus on the following domains:
- Relations between development and migration at the macro-scale
- Theoretical approaches to the relations between migration and development
- Analysis of human migration flows, relations between migration and development policies and its impact on host countries and countries of origin, the role of the Czech Republic
- Comparative analysis on effects of human migration processes and development interventions
- Environmental determinants of migration (environmental migration phenomenon)
- Security factors of human migration processes (forced/voluntary migration) a creation of development capacities
- Relations between development and migration at the meso-and micro-scale
- Theoretical approaches to the relations between migration and regional and local development
- Analysis of migration streams with focus on selected regions in the Czech Republic
- Role of public sector in relations between migration and regional and local development
In the short-term outlook, the following research domains are regarded as principal:
- Causes of migration, including the issue of asylum-seekers (focused on the Czech Republic)
- Environmental changes (including climatic) with focus on development capacities, security issues and adaptation mechanisms
- Environmental factors of migration with focus on particular regions (East Asia, Subsaharan Africa, Eastern Europe)
- Relations between intraurban migration and local development
- Theories of development in theoretical and practical dimension
- Efficiency of programs and projects realized in the framework of official development assistance
The domains given above will be subjects of planned grant projects and they may become subjects of diploma, bachelor or student works, not only at EPI.
Cooperation with Czech and foreign institutions
In the global world of scientific institutional networks, cooperation and partnership are an indivisible part of IMDR existence. Contemporary, members of IMDR participate in research activities with partners almost on all continents. We will try to negotiate cooperation with another foreign institutions in the framework of research and publication activities through submission of grant projects and organization of international seminars and workshops. Similarly, IMDR is open to all forms of cooperation with Czech and foreign institutions concerning with the interest domains.
General IMDR Objectives until the year 2010
IMDR would like to fulfil the following objectives until the year 2010:
- Personal and financial stabilization and expansion of IMDR enabling independent research activities
- Positioning of IMDR on the Czech and international scene (especially through publication of studies and articles in Czech and foreign scientific journals, cooperation with media, participation in international conferences and forums, later through active participation in projects of partner institutions and publication activities in foreign reviewed journals)
- Gradual participation of IMDR in research networks of international and Czech institutions
- Gradual diversification of research domains
- Successive formation of IMDR library focused on migration and development accessible to the scholar public
- Participation of students at EPI in IMDR activities (elaboration of student works)
Participation of IMDR staff in research and education projects
IMDR staff participated, participate or will participate in the following research and education projects:
2007–2008 - Environmental Change and Forced Migration Scenarios. International research project. Call identifier FP6-2005-SSP 5A – 2.5, proposal No. 044468 (Consortium research grant: European Commission, Brussels)
2007–2008 - Innovation and Internationalisation of Selected Study Courses at the University of Ostrava. Call identifier CZ.04.1.03/3.2.15.3/0439 (grant: European Social Fund, Ministry of Education, Czech Republic)
2006–2008 - Innovation of the Study Course International Development Studies at the Palacký University in Olomouc. Call identifier CZ.04.1.03/3.2.15.2/0272 (grant: European Social Fund, Ministry of Education, Czech Republic)
2006 - Multidisciplinary Teaching of Workers in the Development Sector, Module „Local Dimension of Development“. (Coordinator Lucie Rýdlová, MBA; grant: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Czech Republic)
2006 - EUROMODEL. International Development Education Project, LEONARDO DA VINCI - Community Vocational Training Action Programme. Call identifier 2004 I/04/B/F/PP-154051 (Consortium grant: European Commission, Brussels)
2005–2006 - Sources and Causes of Arrival from Countries of Origin to the Asylum Infrastructure of the Czech Republic. Identifier UT-56-22/2005 (Coordinators: Assoc. Prof. Tadeusz Siwek, Robert Stojanov, M.A.; Research grant: Ministry of Interior, Czech Republic)
2004–2005 - Systematic Development of Forecasting Methodology. Research Grant No. 403/03/0109 (2003 - 2005) (Coordinator: Prof. Martin Potůček; grant: Czech Science Foundation)
2003 - Project GLODEV - Training for Global Development. International Training Development Project. LEONARDO DA VINCI. (Consortium grant: European Commission, Brussels)
2000 - Towards Sustainable Development in the Czech Republic: Creation of Conditions. (Project director: Prof. Bedřich Moldán; grant: UNDP, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Czech Republic)