Veranstaltungsprogramm

Rapid increase in inflation, violence against healthcare workers, and overburdening of the healthcare system exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic are some of the reasons why doctors are increasingly looking to leave Turkey, with Germany being one of the chief destinations of this high-skilled migration. The number of Turkish doctors in Germany is consistently rising, and the annual change in the number of Turkish doctors in Germany peaked in 2022, with a 22.8% change from 2021 to 2022 when active physicians are considered. As of December 2022, there are 2,160 Turkish doctors in Germany, of which 1,889 are actively working.

While the dynamics of this migration is timely and significant to be researched, that the immigration process and experience are far from uniform and the resources and opportunities relating to them are unequally distributed is often neglected in the healthcare worker migration literature. Hence, I take an intersectional approach to investigating the process of immigration, and seek to explore how the experiences of Turkish doctors’ immigration to Germany are characterized by their gender and sexual identities. In order to answer this question, I will share findings from in-depth interviews conducted with policymakers in Germany and Turkey, doctors seeking to migrate or who have migrated in the last decade from Turkey to Germany, and agencies that work in intermediary roles in this migration. The findings from this research are expected to have implications for policies in both Turkey and in Germany.

The influx of displaced scientists from Ukraine into the European Union presents a unique and pressing challenge, necessitating a thorough, gender-specific analysis. The predominance of women among these displaced populations, due to the martial law restriction on male mobility during wartime, underscores the importance of a gender lens in understanding and addressing their needs. This research argues for a nuanced approach to the study and support of displaced Ukrainian women scientists, recognizing the complex interplay of gender, displacement, and science in a European context.

In the wake of war, the academic trajectory of forcibly displaced scientists, the majority of whom are women, veers sharply from the norm. Traditional paradigms of academic mobility and migration fall short in encapsulating the emergent, gendered realities these women face. As they navigate new professional landscapes, these scientists are not only confronted with the challenges of continuing their research but also with the additional burdens of caregiving and community support, often in the situation of forced solo-motherhood. They are often on the move with their children and/or other family members and pets, deal with work-life balance issues as well as with their need to integrate into the EU scientific area.

The intersection of their professional identity with their roles as mothers, caregivers, and community members in a foreign environment calls for a comprehensive understanding that integrates their scientific pursuits and personal lives.

This research employs a dual-method approach to capture the multifaceted experiences of these women. Firstly, in-depth interviews with displaced female scientists who have continued their careers in the EU provide qualitative insights into their professional adjustments, coping strategies, and integration processes. This method allows for a rich, nuanced understanding of their experiences, challenges, and resilience. Secondly, an autoethnographic approach is employed, where the reflections and experiences of women researchers who have themselves experienced displacement offer a deeply personal and contextualized understanding of the broader phenomenon.

By focusing on personal narratives and individual experiences, this study aims to shed light on the specific needs, aspirations, and challenges faced by displaced women scientists. It seeks to contribute to the development of more tailored, responsive policies and programs that not only facilitate the professional integration of these scientists into the EU academic landscape but also support their personal well-being and empowerment. The findings are anticipated to provide valuable insights for academic institutions, policymakers, and support networks involved in the reception and integration of displaced scientists, advocating for a gender-informed approach that recognizes and addresses the unique challenges and contributions of women in science. By using a gender lens we can ensure that the support provided is equitable, effective, and cognizant of the complex realities of these women's lives, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and resilient scientific community.

The training of highly qualified young people who have become forced migrants in the German higher education system makes a contribution that cannot be underestimated in shaping social changes that will continue to be characterized in the future by global migration and the growing need for a skilled workforce (Grüttner et al. 2020). However, research by DAAD & DZHW (2020) shows that refugees are less successful in preparing for university entrance than other international applicants. At the same time, integration into the labor market is achieved through systematic language support, rapid recognition of professional qualifications, and/or comprehensive education and training. Studying the experience of integrating refugees into the education system will expand ideas about the possibilities of overcoming cultural barriers, propose mechanisms for the inclusion of young migrants in German society, and, most importantly, determine ways to more effectively accommodate highly qualified refugees in the labor market in Germany. Analyzing the needs of highly skilled migrants and young refugees from Ukraine who intend to pursue higher education in Germany will allow the development of policy implications and targeted measures for their further integration. Key questions to be explored include how the realization of opportunities or obstacles for obtaining higher education impacts the integration of highly qualified refugees and their older children, and determines post-migrant prospects for Ukrainian refugees. Additionally, the study will assess the potential for enhancing the integration of highly qualified professionals through higher education and advanced training programs, or by acquiring new specialties.