Workshop: Staying practices of skilled migrants in industrialized countries: Comparative perspectives from (East) Asia and Switzerland, August 29-30, 2024

This workshop delves into the complexities of skilled migrants' social and economic integration in industrialized countries, with a specific focus on (East) Asia and Switzerland. By examining the staying practices of skilled migrants, we seek to understand the factors that influence their decision to remain in their host societies or move on. The workshop will explore the nuanced challenges and opportunities that skilled migrants encounter in their daily (working) lives, which might differ significantly between (East) Asia and Switzerland. Skilled migrants in some (East) Asian countries seek to stay long-term, despite being in restrictive immigration regimes. Switzerland, often perceived as an attractive destination for skilled migrants due to its economic stability and quality of life, presents a complex picture when examined through qualitative research. Migrants in Switzerland face a range of challenges that influence their integration and long-term settlement intentions, including challenges of obtaining citizenship, household migration dynamics, and the influence of gender and race. By comparing these findings with the experiences of skilled migrants in (East) Asia, the workshop aims to identify commonalities and differences in the integration processes across the case studies and their different immigration regimes. By bringing together scholars working on (East) Asia and Switzerland, this workshop advances scholarly debates on skilled migrants' decisions regarding staying, returning, or relocating and fosters a deeper understanding of the social and economic integration of skilled migrants in their host societies.

Program details: Find flyer here (PDF, 381 KB)

Venue:

Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies, Zürichbergstrasse 4, CH-8032 Zürich, Room ZUB-314

Sponsored by the Chair of Social Science of Japan, Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies, University of Zurich and QuaMaFA (Qualification and Skill in the Migration Process of Foreign Workers in Asia), German Federal Ministry of Education and Research