Young Policy Network on Migration

International mobility, migration, and the resulting diversity within societies will continue to impact the national and global political agenda in the decades to come. In order to address the challenges and the opportunities that go along with them, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of the different relevant policy fields and to develop active networks between different stakeholders.

The Young Policy Network on Migration (YPNM) is an interdisciplinary network for and between young migration researchers and migration practitioners and policy stakeholders who have first-hand work experience in the field and who would like to build a career in migration. The Young Policy Network on Migration is a program that seeks to enhance the exchange between young researchers and practitioners on migration and enables a change of perspective among the participants. Young scholars will receive a better understanding and know-how of the policymaking process on migration and discuss about the role of research in those processes and how to best communicate relevant research to policy audiences. Young practitioners will gain more insights into current research topics and results and assess and reflect on what research would be relevant for policy development in their respective fields.

The Young Policy Network on Migration brings together 26 select fellows from Switzerland, Germany, and other countries around the world. The conference offers a mix of formats such as keynotes by high-level speakers, small working groups, a simulation game, a site visit and teambuilding exercises. The inaugural meeting of the YPNM addressed select topics such as social cohesion in diverse societies, past and future of the international protection regime, and international migration policies: borders, deals, development. All topical debates addressed the interplay and relationship between academia and the practical and policymaker perspective, and hence equipped the young migration professionals with a broadened understanding of the field. 

The Young Policy Network on Migration is coordinated by the Swiss Forum for Migration Studies (SFM) in cooperation with The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF). It is funded by a generous grant from the Mercator Foundation Switzerland and the “NCCR- on the move” program.