Description: My research aims to study the integration of immigrants for a wide range of EU and non-EU countries, by applying a new approach based on the time immigrants and natives allocate to daily activities. This will be achieved by: 1) investigating the differences between immigrants and natives in participation and in the time spent in integrating activities using parametric methods. In particular, the analysis focuses on differences between sub-groups of immigrants based on gender and other characteristics; 2) developing new metrics that analyse the relationships between integrating activities and how individuals distribute the time across activities. The analysis of the relationships between activities allows us to better understand deviations from desirable behaviour and inform policy actions aimed at removing constraints.
Website research project: https://www.ugent.be/en/research/research-ugent/eu-trackrecord/h2020/msca-h2020/timeuse.htm
Promoter(s): Glenn Rayp
Researcher(s): Rezart Hoxhaj
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
Period of time: 2021 - 2023

Description: While the world is currently facing one of the worst refugee crises of modern times, a growing number of countries are implementing increasingly restrictive refugee policies. Hence, public communication has become essential for refugee organizations in persuading the general public and states to engage in solidarity. As (international) refugee organizations significantly contribute to the public perception on refugee crises, this project critically investigates their public communication strategies. From a multi-method perspective, we scrutinize their discursive strategies on the recent Syrian and Central African crises. Acknowledging the rapidly changing mediascape, we focus on public communication in specific social contexts. We thereby pay particular attention to (1) the production process by means of interviews with these refugee organizations, and (2) the practices of representing refugees.
Promoter(s): Stijn Joye
Researcher(s): David Ongenaert
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Political and Social Sciences
Period of time: 2017 - 2022

Description: My research centers around space, identity, minorities, and mobilities in general. I have specifically written on Muslim minorities in the United States and Europe, minorities in Turkey, and history of geographic thought. I am particularly interested in the role of place in constructing identities, drawing boundaries and maintaining differences. Uneven power relations are at the center of my analysis. I believe that without understanding power relations and the role of place in power struggles, one cannot fully understand the contextuality, contingency and complexity of mobility, space and identity. Discourses produced, policies formed, narratives and memories created reflect complex power relations. The power to define, to draw boundaries, to dominate, to resist, to create and maintain differences is a central issue in mobilities and identities, whether it is immigration or emigration, integration or assimilation, reconciliation or alienation.
Promoter(s): Ilse Derluyn
Researcher(s): Ilhan Kaya
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
Period of time: 2021 - 2022

Description: The overarching goal of this research project is to improve our understanding of the climate change, migration and health(care) nexus, the theme of the CliMigHealth ITN coordinated by Ghent University. Climate change forms an important driver of migration. It also adversely affects health and puts pressure on health care systems in the South. Migration may in turn have implications on health and access to health services of migrants, as well as of their home communities and of those where they migrate to. The nexus is complex, and interactions, effects and feedback loops between the different driving forces and actors are not always well understood. This project aims to contribute to adequate and sustainable responses or solutions to the adverse human health effects of climate change and migration by fostering our understanding of how climate change impacts human health and health care and how both interact with migration.
Promoter(s): Ilse Ruyssen , Charlotte Scheerens , Ine Lietaert , Ilse Derluyn , Glenn Rayp , Sorana Toma
Researcher(s): Ilse Ruyssen , Charlotte Scheerens , Els Bekaert , Alix Debray , Ine Lietaert
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration , Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
Period of time: 2020 - 2025