At our launch event, we officially unveiled the Research Institute for Migration and Refugee Studies and Management (FORM) at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU), thereby marking the start of work aimed at making an objective, evidence-based contribution to the debate on migration and refugees.

Following a presentation of FORM by our institute directors, PD Dr Judith Kohlenberger and Univ.-Doz. Dr Katharina Miko-Schefzig, the opening ceremony was addressed by WU Rector Rupert Sausgruber. This was followed by welcoming remarks from Magnus Brunner, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration; Christian Konrad, Chair of the FORM Friends’ Association; and Eva-Maria Holzleitner from the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research.

One of the highlights of our opening ceremony was the keynote speech by Naika Foroutan, from DeZIM Berlin and Humboldt University of Berlin, on the topic ‘Migrant Gold?! On the mismatch between migration needs and resistance to migration, and on the role of migration research in polarised times.’

In the subsequent panel discussion with Johannes Kopf (AMS), Silvia Angelo (ÖBB), Gabriel Felbermayr (WIFO) and Gertrude Schatzdorfer-Wölfel (Schatzdorfer Gerätebau), moderated by our Institute Director, PD Dr Judith Kohlenberger, we discussed the challenges and opportunities of migration and integration for living and working in Austria. 

We also particularly appreciated the audience’s active questions, suggestions and ideas for projects put forward to FORM.

There is much talk about migration and displacement, often in an emotionally charged, polarised manner and without evidence. This is precisely where FORM comes in: with independent research, well-founded analysis and the networking of stakeholders from the public sector, politics, business and civil society.

We owe it to many people that this journey is now beginning. We would like to thank everyone who attended the opening event, shared the evening with us and supported the institute from the very start. This interest and encouragement mean a great deal to us.

We look forward to everything that lies ahead.

At our launch event, we officially unveiled the Research Institute for Migration and Refugee Studies and Management (FORM) at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU), thereby marking the start of work aimed at making an objective, evidence-based contribution to the debate on migration and refugees.

Following a presentation of FORM by our institute directors, PD Dr Judith Kohlenberger and Univ.-Doz. Dr Katharina Miko-Schefzig, the opening ceremony was addressed by WU Rector Rupert Sausgruber. This was followed by welcoming remarks from Magnus Brunner, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration; Christian Konrad, Chair of the FORM Friends’ Association; and Eva-Maria Holzleitner from the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research.

One of the highlights of our opening ceremony was the keynote speech by Naika Foroutan, from DeZIM Berlin and Humboldt University of Berlin, on the topic ‘Migrant Gold?! On the mismatch between migration needs and resistance to migration, and on the role of migration research in polarised times.’

In the subsequent panel discussion with Johannes Kopf (AMS), Silvia Angelo (ÖBB), Gabriel Felbermayr (WIFO) and Gertrude Schatzdorfer-Wölfel (Schatzdorfer Gerätebau), moderated by our Institute Director, PD Dr Judith Kohlenberger, we discussed the challenges and opportunities of migration and integration for living and working in Austria. 

We also particularly appreciated the audience’s active questions, suggestions and ideas for projects put forward to FORM.

There is much talk about migration and displacement, often in an emotionally charged, polarised manner and without evidence. This is precisely where FORM comes in: with independent research, well-founded analysis and the networking of stakeholders from the public sector, politics, business and civil society.

We owe it to many people that this journey is now beginning. We would like to thank everyone who attended the opening event, shared the evening with us and supported the institute from the very start. This interest and encouragement mean a great deal to us.

We look forward to everything that lies ahead.