Research on Arctic migration increases understanding of the specificities of migration in the northernmost regions of the world. The Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland is involved in altogether six new projects related to Arctic migration that have been launched during the past spring.

The economic integration and employment of immigrants
is an essential theme also in the Arctic. Business Ladies and
Attract Lappi projects coordinated by the Arctic Centre are
both funded by the European Social Fund and aim to support employment of
immigrants. 

Business Ladies strengthens the
business expertise of migrant women entrepreneurs in Finnish Lapland in particular
through networking and peer support. Attract Lappi aims to provide means and
procedures for permanent employment opportunities to immigrants coming to Lapland
for temporary work purposes. Immigrants are approached while they are still in
fixed-term employment with Lappish companies. Their competencies are to be mapped in
a comprehensive way to match their profiles based on the demand of private sectors
to utilize resources and expertise in right place. The project will provide
companies and employers new ways of sharing own value chains.

The Arctic Centre is also organizing a first ever northern conference on
Arctic Migration. Conference Migration in the North was
originally planned to take place in May 2020 but it was postponed due to Covid-19
situation and it will take place virtually on 29 – 30 October 2020. Conference is
organized in collaboration with the Uarctic thematic Network on Arctic migration
along with other several partner institutes all over the Arctic. More information
about the conference is available on the conference website MIN2020. 

In addition to projects with coordination responsibility, Arctic Centre at the
University of Lapland is a partner organization in several international projects
and initiatives related to migration. One of these is Erasmus funded MaxiPac project that aims to ensure
third-country nationals, such as refugees, with optimal opportunities in European
higher education. 

Another European wide project
is SIRIUS 2.0 which promotes best policies on
the major education policy debates to support mainstream migration and education
activities. Project is funded by the European Commission. 

An Interdisciplinary Network on Littoral Species, Settlements, and
Cultures on the Move (MiH-RCN) is a major international initiative
working to synthesize current research and build collaborative project teams to
support a resilient, just, and sustainable Arctic in motion. This Research
Coordination Network on Arctic Migrations is led by Georgetown
University. 

More
information:

Nafisa
Yeasmin
Project Manager
Arctic Centre, University of
Lapland
nafisa.yeasmin(at)ulapland.fi
+358 40 484 4256

Timo Koivurova
Research Professor
Arctic
Centre, University of Lapland
timo.koivurova(at)ulapland.fi
+358 40 551 9522