First Migration and Development Workshop for Young Researchers and Teachers The International Network on Migration and Development, Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF) and the Center for Comparative Migration Studies at the University of California San Diego (CCIS-UCSD)

Dates: June 16 to July 18, 2008
Application Deadline: January 31, 2008
Location: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico and San Diego, California, United States 

BACKGROUND

Nowadays it is crucial to promote a comprehensive research agenda that examines the relation between migration and development, takes into account both northern and southern perspectives, and transcends the current views promoted by certain countries and international organizations, which posit that migrant remittances should be employed to promote development in countries of origin.

In order to come up with alternative viewpoints and leave behind the distorted and unidirectional approach that has characterized these issues, it is necessary to promote dialogue among teachers and researchers, both established and in training, and critically analyze the effects that current models of development have had on international population mobility, which, in the last 25 years, has reached unprecedented levels.

We intend to change current analytical perspectives and construct an approach that considers migration an inherent part of development as well as a crucial element in a dialectical and multidimensional process that includes the practices of social agents operating simultaneously on international, regional, national and local levels.

WORKSHOP GOALS

The workshop is an accredited academic seminar geared toward young researchers and teachers: master’s programs graduates, PhD students, and academics who are beginning teaching or research careers and are interested in analyzing, discussing and critically evaluating issues pertaining to migration and development.

WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES

The workshop will involve two types of activities: lectures and consultations will be provided by the host institutions; research will involve the participants’ individual projects and will be carried out during the five-week duration of the workshop.

I. Lectures and consultations

a) Master lectures by internationally renowned academics will be scheduled during the first weeks of the workshop in accordance with thematic modules.

b) Specialized consultation will be provided by professors and researchers at the host institutions in order to support the in situ work of participants.

II. Research

a) A documentary and information review of the source material at the libraries of the El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (Tijuana) and University of California, San Diego.

b) The writing of a paper of high enough quality to be published in a specialized journal. This paper will be based on knowledge acquired during the workshop and the participants’ bibliographic review. It will discuss and analyze the current state of some of the issues examined in the thematic modules.1

THEMATIC MODULES2

Analytical perspectives and discourses on development and migration

Theoretical and methodological perspectives and the importance of comparative approaches to the study of development and migration. Raúl Delgado Wise and Humberto Márquez Covarrubias.

Migration, development and remittances: myths, realities and numbers. Alejandro Canales Cerón and Rodolfo Corona Vázquez.

New perspectives on the study of migration and development: gender, culture and religion. Peggy Levitt and Laura Velasco Ortiz.

Interdisciplinary construction in the study of migration and development. Miguel Moctezuma Longoria.

Migration policies and regulation

Migration reform, temporary workers and circular migration. Wayne Cornelius and Rodolfo Cruz Piñeiro

The international agenda of migrations. Juan Artola

Security policies and human rights. Susan Gzesh and Jorge A. Bustamante

Transnational society, migrant organizations and transnationalism

The transnational approach. Luis Guarnizo and Patricia Landolt

Ties between migrant-sending and receiving communities. David Fitzgerald

Transnational organizations. Gaspar Rivera Salgado

Migrants as political subjects. Amy Shannon and Oscar Chacón

SCHEDULE

The first two weeks of the workshop will involve morning conferences scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. These will be followed by afternoon discussions between participants and lecturers from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. These sessions will take place at COLEF in Tijuana and CCIS in University of California, San Diego.

The last three weeks will involve individual research under the guidance of advisors and the writing of the final papers. The participants will have access to the libraries at COLEF and UCSD and the advice of professors at both institutions. It is important to point out that, in order to discuss their research and articles, participants must make appointments based on the professors’ availability.

Participants must e-mail their final papers to Dr. María Eugenia Anguiano, workshop coordinator, and send a copy to Alma Trejo Peña, workshop general assistant, by July 18, 2:00 p.m. There will be no extensions.

Certificates of completion will be handed out during August 11-15, 2008, once the papers have been reviewed and selected for submission to the above mentioned journals.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS AND SELECTION

A selection committee comprised of academics belonging to the host institutions will select a total of 25 participants. Applicant requirements are as follows:

1. Education:

Completed coursework in a Social Sciences or Humanities master’s program and a completed thesis on a subject related to migration and development, or

Ongoing work in a Social Sciences or Humanities PhD program and an ongoing dissertation on a subject related to migration and development, or

Up to two years of academic work in a university or research institution involving teaching or research on subjects related to migration and development

2. Full-time availability and willingness to remain in Tijuana and/or San Diego during the five-week duration of the workshop.

3. Required documents

Statement of intent.

Two academic recommendation letters.

Curriculum vitae.

A maximum one-page summary of your Master’s thesis or PhD dissertation. PhD students can submit a summary of their research project.

In the case of new teachers/researchers, a maximum one-page summary of recent research project(s).

A valid visa to enter the United Status during workshop dates.

For those who qualify (see following section, Financial Aid. Grants), application for funding, requested amount and reasons why it is needed.

4. Fluency in both English and Spanish.

FINANCIAL AID

• SCHOLARSHIPS

Out of the 25 selected participants, 15 will be eligible to receive a maximum of 1,000.00 USD for transportation and, if needed, food and lodging.

This aid will only be available to nationals belonging to non-OECD member countries, with Mexico being the sole exception. The applicants must be registered in or be part of academic, research or teaching staff at universities or research institutions in these countries. Nationals who are originally from non-OECD member countries but are registered or work in institutes belonging to OECD members other than Mexico will not be eligible.

The scholarships will be awarded by the selection committee upon request and based on the requirements and conditions set forth in this announcement.

• LODGING, FOOD AND LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

All participants will receive timely information regarding low-budget accommodation in Tijuana, daily transportation to COLEF and transportation to CCIS-UCSD to attend scheduled activities.

All participants will have access to the same conveniences available to COLEF scholars, with library access and food subsidies at the Cafeteria. They will also have access to the libraries and facilities at The Center for Comparative Immigration Studies at University of California San Diego, as well as activities organized by the Center.

DEADLINES Applications should be received by January 31, 2008, 12 p.m. CST, and should be sent to all of the following e-mail addresses:
Dra. María Eugenia Anguiano: anguiano@colef.mx
Dra. Cristina Blanco: cristina.blanco@ehu.es
Dr. Abelardo Morales: amorales@flacso.or.cr
Mtra. Alma Trejo Peña: altrejo@colef.mx
Mtra. Ana Vila Freyer: ana.vila@estudiosdeldesarrollo.net

The selection committee will announce the results on March 10, 2008.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information contact Alma Trejo Peña, El Colegio de la Frontera Norte. Phone: ++ 52 (664) 6 31 63 00, ext. 2302. E-mail: altrejo@colef.mx

1 All of the papers will be reviewed and the best will be selected for publication in the journals Migración y desarrollo (published by the INMD), Migraciones internacionales (published by COLEF) and the Working Papers of the CCIS.