Lund University, one of the partner institutions in the Global-ANSWER project on human mobility and migration funded by the European Union under Horizon 2020, is hosting international researchers and professionals with an outstanding track record in migration and the social sciences during August and September.
Among them is Marilena Macaluso, Associate Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Palermo, whose research stay in Lund took place from 1 to 30 August. A specialist in political participation, second-generation citizenship and social movements, Macaluso serves on the Executive Committee of the European Sociological Association, was the University of Palermo’s lead for the OLTRE project (on preventing Islamic radicalisation), and has participated in other European initiatives such as SMOOTH and COMMIT. Her stay in Lund enabled her to meet with professionals and academics from different countries, engage in debates on comparative migration policies, and disseminate the progress of her research. Access to the university’s Social Sciences Library also proved a source of inspiration for future lines of enquiry.
Also taking part in this cycle of secondments is Tania Vilkhova, Director of Social Action at Red Acoge, who has more than ten years of international experience in migration, human rights and social inclusion. Her stay in Lund, from 19 August to 19 September, is aimed at gaining first-hand knowledge of the methodologies developed in the city to support migrants and refugees. To this end, she is holding meetings with third-sector organisations and with professionals from complementary fields, including healthcare, in order to strengthen and innovate the work Red Acoge carries out in Spain.
The visit has also featured the participation of Riccardo Ercole Omodei, researcher in Criminal Law at the University of Palermo, who delivered a lecture at Lund. Omodei had previously undertaken a research stay at the Swedish institution last year as part of the Global-ANSWER project.
These research stays and collaborations are being coordinated by Norma Montesino, Teres Hjärpe and Claudia Di Matteo, lecturers at Lund University’s School of Social Work, who are acting as hosts and supervisors of the exchange programme.
