About us

We bring together researchers, practitioners, NGOs and policy makers working with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland by:

  • Being an internationally recognised research network for Refugees, Asylum and Migration in Scotland.
  • Promoting knowledge exchange and capacity building between practitioners and researchers in the field through shared collaborative research programmes, open resources, the provision of joint research training workshops and professional development short courses, and the delivery of appropriate Master's and collaborative PhD degree programmes.
  • Encouraging interdisciplinary research on refugees, asylum and migration.
  • Developing strong and active collaborative research and development links, not only between the University of Glasgow and partners in policy making and the Third Sector, but also with those working in the field of sustainability, intercultural and international development.
Funding

Our network is currently funded by The University of Glasgow, w‌hose academic community has a wide range of expertise in relation to these areas.

Our expertise

As a network, we support and encourage the following areas of interest and expertise:

  • Current thinking on motivations for migration, asylum and refugees, in relation to decisions to move, experiences in Scotland and longer term decisions regarding settlement or return
  • Factors influencing patterns of movement including climate; sustainability; social justice; violence
  • Cultural, economic, social and political aspects of transnationalism as these relate to both migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and local populations
  • Legal and social policy on migration, asylum and refugees in Scotland and in the context of devolution
  • Health, well-being, social security and care
  • Narratives of migration, asylum and refugees in art, literature, film, drama and the creative industries
  • Implications for education: schooling, higher and community education
  • Language, intercultural and linguistic issues, including translation and interpreting
  • Psychological consequences of migration and asylum
  • Implications for faith communities and interreligious dialogue
  • Implications for security issues and policing
  • Cross-border migration

GRAMNet convenors and support

GRAMNet is run by its convenors who rotate on a regular basis (every 6 to 12 months). The current convenors are:

The convenors are supported by a wider steering group that meets throughout the academic year. If you are interested in joining the steering group, please contact us: 

Statement on Academic Freedom

GRAMNet aims to facilitate a range of relationships but not to speak for any of its partners or groups, rather to uphold the values of ‘academic freedom’ in enabling a space for researching questions which arise through migration and asylum flows, hospitality and integration. GRAMNet does not therefore take a ‘collective’ view on issues but rather supports academics and partners in their distinctive work and questions.  

Why Glasgow?

The City of Glasgow is host to the largest population of refugees and asylum seekers under the dispersal policy as well as having a history of hosting large communities of migrants.

Glasgow also has a large number of organisations working with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in a variety of ways and it is clear that Scotland as a whole provides a distinctive context within the UK as far as migration, refugee and asylum issues are concerned.

Whilst immigration in the form of entry to the country and the status of non-UK citizens are reserved matters, there is less certainty about the degree to which immigrant policies after arrival are devolved, and which remain under the jurisdiction of Westminster.