International Research Centres

The Institute for the Study of International Migration (Georgetown University, Washington, DC) affiliated with the Georgetown Law Center, provides analyses of international migration, and networks with other U.S. and foreign universities to foster research exchanges and cooperative projects. As the new site of the Secretariat of the International Association for the Study of Forced Migration, ISIM’s capacity to network internationally with scholars engaged in refugee and migration issues will enhance the Global Knowledge Cluster considerably. ISIM will host student researchers, facilitate faculty exchanges, meetings of the partners in Washington, and disseminate via their website and the journal International Migration. (Susan Martin, Director & Donald G. Herzberg Chair in International Migration).

The African Centre for Migration and Society (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg) is an Africa-oriented and African-based centre of excellence for research and teaching that shapes global discourses on migration, development and social transformation. It is dedicated to forming an Africa-wide network of migration and displacement scholars.(Loren Landau, Director).

The Refugee Studies Centre (University of Oxford) has an international reputation as a leading multidisciplinary centre for research and teaching on the causes and consequences of forced migration. RSC combines academic research, international cooperation and capacity building with a commitment to improving the lives and situations of refugees. In addition, the RSC’s Forced Migration Online initiative will provide an invaluable resource for all those involved in the Global Network.  (Alex Betts, Director)

The Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group is well-known for its research, dialogues, and advocacy work in the scholar-activist world on autonomy, human rights, women’s dignity, forced displacement and migration, peace and conflict resolution, citizenship, borders and border-conflicts, and other themes relevant to democracy. The Calcutta Research Group has developed a strong network of scholars, activists and institutions that will contribute to the Global Knowledge Cluster. (Ranabir Samaddar, Director & Professor).

The Center for Migration and Refugee Studies (The American University in Cairo) has an extensive electronic library on refugee and refugee-related topics. The program’s extensive research projects, education programs, directories of services for refugees and numerous publications will contribute to the development of the Global Knowledge Cluster.  (Ibrahim Awad, Director)

The Institute for Ethnic, Governance and Law (Griffith University, Brisbane) is a joint initiative of the United Nations University and Griffith University in association with the Australian National University. IEGL conducts various projects on issues related to refugees, migrations and forced migration, including a project in Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka; a project on the ethics of intervention; a project on the conception of sovereignty (linked to Princeton University and the United Nations); a Government Research Network project which they could link directly to the Global Knowledge Cluster.

The Group on Political Theory and Legal Theory (Javeriana University, Bogotá) was formed in 2001 by the Javeriana Pontifical University in Bogotá and members of some other law faculties and recognized by the National System of Research Groups (SCIENTI) to address the complex problems of the Colombian reality from the perspective of legal theory, postcolonial studies, and a global approach. Their two principal foci are; i) the cultural studies of law, including projects concerning legal interpretation, judicial practice, the Colombian armed conflict, exceptionality, history of prisons, and the history of legality in Colombia and Latin America and ii) globalization and law, including participation on projects of contemporary legal systems, contemporary human rights law, politics, and migrations. (Roberto Vidal-López, Director & Professor).

The Division of Population Research in the Institute of Social Studies and Research (University of Tehran) and Australian National University, Canberra, Australia undertakes demographic research related to population and sustainable development in Iran, including issues of gender, poverty and refugee issues which intersect with population and development. Their research aims to build national capacity including development and human resources and promotes networks between local, regional and global research institutions by sharing experiences and research outcomes. They have developed strong ties with organizations outside Iran such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) in Afghanistan, and the Demography Program of Australian National University. (Mohammad Jalal Abbasi-Shavazi, Chair & Associate Professor).

Refugee Law Project (Makerere University, Kampala) is a project of the Human Rights Consortium at the School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, UK. RLI is the only academic centre in the UK to concentrate specifically on international refugee law. As a national focal point for leading and promoting research in this field, RLI works to integrate the shared interests of refugee law scholars and practitioners, stimulate collaboration between academics and non-academics, and achieve policy impact at the national and international level. (Chris Dolan, Director)

Center for Forced Migration Studies (CFMS), (Northwestern University) is based at the Buffet Center for International and Comparative Studies at Northwestern University in Evanston, USA. CFMS brings together an interdisciplinary group of faculty and students and fosters collaborative networks with organizations and practitioners to contribute an understanding of the condition of refugee movement across state borders to avoid the risk of harm, the underlying social disfranchisement, and the international community’s response to refugee needs. In order to inform policy recommendations, CFMS focuses on the personal predicaments, needs, challenges, and rights of refugees themselves. As such, the connection of documentation and research, to policy and practice is central to the work. (Galya Ruffer, Director)

Refugee Law Initiative, School of Advanced Study (University of London) is a project of the Human Rights Consortium at the School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, UK. RLI is the only academic centre in the UK to concentrate specifically on international refugee law. As a national focal point for leading and promoting research in this field, RLI works to integrate the shared interests of refugee law scholars and practitioners, stimulate collaboration between academics and non-academics, and achieve policy impact at the national and international level. (David Cantor, Director)

Centre for Refugee Research (CRR) (University of New South Wales) is an interdisciplinary research centre at the University of New South Wales in Canberra, Australia. CRR focuses on international refugee flows, internally displaced people, forced migration and resettlement issues. It conducts research, education, and advocacy programs, partnering with community based refugee organisations, in relation to the nexus between refugee circumstances overseas and the resettlement experience in developed countries, and identification of and response to the most vulnerable refugees, in particular women and girls at risk. CRR adopts a human rights framework and engages principles of community development and social justice in all its work. (Linda Bartolomei, Director)

The Centre for Research on Migration, Refugees and Belonging (University of East London) brings together the interdisciplinary work carried out within the School of Law and Social Sciences of the University of East London, in the related areas of migration and refugee studies; diasporas and social cohesion; racism, nationalism and political religions; as well as citizenship, identity and belonging. It collaborates with individuals, academic institutions and organisations outside UEL on research, conferences and seminars, in order to build knowledge on these crucial issues and provide a space for debate and creative thinking. (Nira Yuval-Davis, Director)