NCCR On the Move: The Migration-Mobility Nexus: The Mobility of the Highly Skilled towards Switzerland

Research Project
|
01.06.2014
- 31.05.2018

The Mobility of the Highly Skilled towards Switzerland More than half of recent immigrants in Switzerland could be classified as "highly qualified migrants". Highly qualified migrants tend to stay for far shorter periods than "old" immigrants. Nevertheless, little research has been conducted on this more temporary form of migration. This lack of scientific research contrasts starkly with the ubiquitous and controversially led media debate on the lifestyle of these immigrants and their alleged reluctance to integrate into the Swiss host society. But who are these highly skilled migrants, what are the factors behind their decision to move to Switzerland, and what characterizes their lives and experiences in Switzerland? Finally, what are the impacts of these contemporary immigration patterns on Swiss society? Aims of the project The project aims at acquiring a comprehensive depiction of the environment of highly qualified immigrants in order to be able to adjust the regulatory framework regarding integration efforts according to the presumed changes in immigration patterns. It outlines recommendations to cope with the challenges that "new" mobility creates especially regarding the current understanding of integration that has not yet undergone an adaptation towards the realities that the paradigm shift has generated. With a combination of policy analysis and anthropological field-research, the project also gives a human face to this kind of global mobility by looking beyond the statistical facts and figures. It thus offers an in-depth insight into a topic that is decidedly under-researched in Switzerland.

Follow this link for further information

Collaborations & Cooperations

2018 - Participation or Organization of Collaborations on an international level

Wagner, Anne-Catherine., Prof. Dr., EDS-AES : Institut Administration Economique et Sociale ; UMR 8209 - CESSP - Centre européen de sociologie et de science politique, Universités de Paris, Research cooperation

2017 - Participation or Organization of Collaborations on a national level

D'Amato, Gianni, Prof. Dr., Schweizerisches Forum für Migrations- und Bevölkerungsstudien, Universität Neuchâtel, Joint PhD project

Publications

Sandoz, Laure (2019) Mobilities of the Highly Skilled towards Switzerland: The Role of Intermediaries in Defining ‘Wanted Immigrants’, IMISCOE Research Series. Cham: Springer (IMISCOE Research Series). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21122-6.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure (2019) ‘Les expatriés et autres élus de la mobilité : l’organisation de la mobilité’, in Dunand, Jean-Philippe; Mahon, Pascal; Witzig, Aurélien (ed.) La révolution 4.0 au travail: Une approche multidisciplinaire. Zürich: Schulthess (Centre d’étude des relations du travail), pp. 59–82.

URLs

Hercog, Metka and Sandoz, Laure (2018) ‘Selecting the highly skilled: norms and practices of the Swiss admission system for non-EU immigrants’, Migration Letters, 15(4), pp. 503–515. Available at: https://doi.org/10.33182/ml.v15i4.2.

URLs

Hercog, Metka and Sandoz, Laure (2018) ‘Highly skilled or highly wanted migrants? Conceptualizations, policy designs and implementations of high-skilled migration policies’, Migration Letters, 15(4), pp. 453–460. Available at: https://doi.org/10.33182/ml.v15i4.534.

URLs

Leimgruber, Walter et al. (2018) ‘The Mobility of the ‘Highly Skilled’ towards Switzerland’, Nccr - on the move. National Center of Competence in Research - the Migration Mobility Nexus. Available at: https://nccr-onthemove.ch/wp_live14/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/nccrotm-Final-Fact-Sheet-IP8-final.pdf.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure (2018) ‘Understanding access to the labour market through migration channels’, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, pp. 1–20. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183x.2018.1502657.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure and Sontag, Katrin (2018) ‘Migration: Bruch oder Kontinuität?’, Fakten statt Mythen, 1 January. Available at: https://www.fluechtlingshilfe.ch/fakten-statt-mythen/beitraege-2018/migration-bruch-oder-kontinuitaet.html.

URLs

Sontag, Katrin (2018) ‘Highly Skilled Asylum Seekers: Case studies of refugee students at a Swiss university’, Migration Letters, 15(4), pp. 533–544. Available at: https://doi.org/10.33182/ml.v15i4.5.

URLs

Oberlé, Hélène, Sandoz, Laure and Sontag, Katrin (2017) ‘Mobilität - der Weg zum Erfolg? Eine öffentliche Veranstaltung der Wissenschaftsvermittlung als paraethnografisches Experiment’, Schweizerisches Archiv für Volkskunde, 113(1), pp. 81–94. Available at: http://www.volkskunde.ch/sgv/publikationen/zeitschriften/savk---astp.html.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘Les compétences professionnelles sous-estimées des migrant·e·s’. Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe. Available at: http://blog.nccr-onthemove.ch/les-competences-professionnelles-sous-estimees-des-migrant%c2%b7e%c2%b7s/.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘Que se passe-t-il aux frontières de l’Europe?’ Organisation Suisse d’Aide aux Réfugiés. Available at: http://blog.nccr-onthemove.ch/que-se-passe-t-il-aux-frontieres-de-leurope/?lang=fr.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘‘Facts instead of Myths’: A Blog Project on Migration and Asylum’. SIETAR. Available at: http://sietar.ch/facts-instead-of-myths-a-blog-project-on-migration-and-asylum-by-laure-sandoz/.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘Retour sur la notion de passeur’. Organisation Suisse d’Aide aux Réfugiés. Available at: https://www.fluechtlingshilfe.ch/fakten-statt-mythen/beitraege-2017/grenzen-schaffen-schlepper.html.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘Voyager légalement : un privilège associé à la nationalité?’ Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe. Available at: http://blog.nccr-onthemove.ch/voyager-legalement-un-privilege-associe-a-la-nationalite/.

URLs

Leimgruber, Walter (2016) ‘Der Staat in Zeiten der grossen Wanderung. Ein historischer Blick auf die Migrationsdebatte’, NZZ Geschichte, 1 January, pp. 6–11.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘‘Crise des réfugiés’ ou crise des inégalités? / ‘Flüchtlingskrise’ oder Gleichheitskrise?’ Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe (SFH) / Swiss Network of Young Migration Scholars. Available at: https://www.osar.ch/des-faits-plutot-que-des-mythes.html.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘L’interminable chemin vers une place de travail / Der langwierige Weg zur Arbeitsstelle’. Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe (SFH) / Swiss Network of Young Migration Scholars (42). Available at: https://www.osar.ch/des-faits-plutot-que-des-mythes.html.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘Quel accès à l’Université pour les personnes en quête de protection? / Haben Schutzsuchende Zugang zur Universität?’ Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe (SFH) / Swiss Network of Young Migration Scholars (57). Available at: https://www.fluechtlingshilfe.ch/fakten-statt-mythen.html.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘The Symbolic Value of Quotas in the Swiss Immigration System’. nccr - on the move / National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) for migration and mobility studies. Available at: http://nccr-onthemove.ch/highlights-1/highlights-1-5/.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘‘Si tu perds ton travail, c’est fini.’’, terra cognita - revue suisse de l’intégration et de la migration, 1 January, pp. 102–103. Available at: http://terra-cognita.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/terracognita/documents/terra_cognita_29.pdf.

URLs

Hercog, Metka and Wiesbrock, Anja (2016) ‘Highly Skilled Migration to the European Union and the United States: The Legal Framework’, in Besharov, Douglas J.; Lopez, Mark Hugo (ed.) Adjusting to a World in Motion: Trends in Global Migration and Migration Policy. New York: Oxford University Press (International Policy Exchange Series), pp. 232–263. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190211394.003.0011.

URLs

Leimgruber, Walter (2016) ‘El desafío de la nueva inmigración a Suiza’, in Sánchez, Salvador Cayuela; Schriewer, Klaus (ed.) Cruzando fronteras. Nuevas perspectivas sobre migración, trabajo y bienestar. Barcelona: Editiones Bellaterra (Serie general universitaria), pp. 49–74.

URLs

Leimgruber, Walter (2016) ‘Demokratische Rechte auf Nicht-Staatsbürger ausweiten’, in Abbt, Christine; Rochel, Johan (ed.) Migrationsland Schweiz. 15 Vorschläge für die Zukunft. Baden: Hier und Jetzt (Migrationsland Schweiz. 15 Vorschläge für die Zukunft), pp. 21–37.

URLs

Leimgruber, Walter (2015) ‘Bildung ist Potenzial - auf allen Lebensstufen’, terra cognita. Schweizer Zeitschrift für Integration und Migration, 27(Herbst), pp. 82–85.

URLs

Sandoz, Laure (2015) ‘L’attractivité de la Suisse - un facteur surévalué / Überbewertete Attraktivitätsdiskussion’. Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe (SFH) / Swiss Network of young Migration Scholars (9). Available at: https://www.fluechtlingshilfe.ch/fakten-statt-mythen.html.

URLs

Hercog, Metka and Siegel, Melissa (2015) ‘Promoting Circular International Migration of the Highly Skilled’, in Wiesbrock, Anja; Acosta Arcarazo, Diego (ed.) Global Migration Issues: Myths and Realities. Santa Barbara: ABC Clio (Global Migration Issues: Myths and Realities), pp. 153–179.

URLs

NCCR On the Move: The Migration-Mobility Nexus: The Mobility of the Highly Skilled towards Switzerland

Research Project
|
01.06.2014
- 31.05.2018

Collaborations & Cooperations

2018 - Participation or Organization of Collaborations on an international level

Wagner, Anne-Catherine., Prof. Dr., EDS-AES : Institut Administration Economique et Sociale ; UMR 8209 - CESSP - Centre européen de sociologie et de science politique, Universités de Paris, Research cooperation

2017 - Participation or Organization of Collaborations on a national level

D'Amato, Gianni, Prof. Dr., Schweizerisches Forum für Migrations- und Bevölkerungsstudien, Universität Neuchâtel, Joint PhD project

Publications

Sandoz, Laure (2019) Mobilities of the Highly Skilled towards Switzerland: The Role of Intermediaries in Defining ‘Wanted Immigrants’, IMISCOE Research Series. Cham: Springer (IMISCOE Research Series). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21122-6.

Hercog, Metka and Sandoz, Laure (2018) ‘Selecting the highly skilled: norms and practices of the Swiss admission system for non-EU immigrants’, Migration Letters, 15(4), pp. 503–515. Available at: https://doi.org/10.33182/ml.v15i4.2.

Hercog, Metka and Sandoz, Laure (2018) ‘Highly skilled or highly wanted migrants? Conceptualizations, policy designs and implementations of high-skilled migration policies’, Migration Letters, 15(4), pp. 453–460. Available at: https://doi.org/10.33182/ml.v15i4.534.

Sandoz, Laure (2018) ‘Understanding access to the labour market through migration channels’, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, pp. 1–20. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183x.2018.1502657.

Sandoz, Laure and Sontag, Katrin (2018) ‘Migration: Bruch oder Kontinuität?’, Fakten statt Mythen, 1 January. Available at: https://www.fluechtlingshilfe.ch/fakten-statt-mythen/beitraege-2018/migration-bruch-oder-kontinuitaet.html.

Sontag, Katrin (2018) ‘Highly Skilled Asylum Seekers: Case studies of refugee students at a Swiss university’, Migration Letters, 15(4), pp. 533–544. Available at: https://doi.org/10.33182/ml.v15i4.5.

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘Les compétences professionnelles sous-estimées des migrant·e·s’. Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe. Available at: http://blog.nccr-onthemove.ch/les-competences-professionnelles-sous-estimees-des-migrant%c2%b7e%c2%b7s/.

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘Que se passe-t-il aux frontières de l’Europe?’ Organisation Suisse d’Aide aux Réfugiés. Available at: http://blog.nccr-onthemove.ch/que-se-passe-t-il-aux-frontieres-de-leurope/?lang=fr.

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘‘Facts instead of Myths’: A Blog Project on Migration and Asylum’. SIETAR. Available at: http://sietar.ch/facts-instead-of-myths-a-blog-project-on-migration-and-asylum-by-laure-sandoz/.

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘Retour sur la notion de passeur’. Organisation Suisse d’Aide aux Réfugiés. Available at: https://www.fluechtlingshilfe.ch/fakten-statt-mythen/beitraege-2017/grenzen-schaffen-schlepper.html.

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘Voyager légalement : un privilège associé à la nationalité?’ Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe. Available at: http://blog.nccr-onthemove.ch/voyager-legalement-un-privilege-associe-a-la-nationalite/.

Leimgruber, Walter (2016) ‘Der Staat in Zeiten der grossen Wanderung. Ein historischer Blick auf die Migrationsdebatte’, NZZ Geschichte, 1 January, pp. 6–11.

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘‘Crise des réfugiés’ ou crise des inégalités? / ‘Flüchtlingskrise’ oder Gleichheitskrise?’ Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe (SFH) / Swiss Network of Young Migration Scholars. Available at: https://www.osar.ch/des-faits-plutot-que-des-mythes.html.

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘L’interminable chemin vers une place de travail / Der langwierige Weg zur Arbeitsstelle’. Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe (SFH) / Swiss Network of Young Migration Scholars (42). Available at: https://www.osar.ch/des-faits-plutot-que-des-mythes.html.

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘The Symbolic Value of Quotas in the Swiss Immigration System’. nccr - on the move / National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) for migration and mobility studies. Available at: http://nccr-onthemove.ch/highlights-1/highlights-1-5/.

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘‘Si tu perds ton travail, c’est fini.’’, terra cognita - revue suisse de l’intégration et de la migration, 1 January, pp. 102–103. Available at: http://terra-cognita.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/terracognita/documents/terra_cognita_29.pdf.

Leimgruber, Walter (2016) ‘El desafío de la nueva inmigración a Suiza’, in Sánchez, Salvador Cayuela; Schriewer, Klaus (ed.) Cruzando fronteras. Nuevas perspectivas sobre migración, trabajo y bienestar. Barcelona: Editiones Bellaterra (Serie general universitaria), pp. 49–74.

Leimgruber, Walter (2016) ‘Demokratische Rechte auf Nicht-Staatsbürger ausweiten’, in Abbt, Christine; Rochel, Johan (ed.) Migrationsland Schweiz. 15 Vorschläge für die Zukunft. Baden: Hier und Jetzt (Migrationsland Schweiz. 15 Vorschläge für die Zukunft), pp. 21–37.

Leimgruber, Walter (2015) ‘Bildung ist Potenzial - auf allen Lebensstufen’, terra cognita. Schweizer Zeitschrift für Integration und Migration, 27(Herbst), pp. 82–85.

Sandoz, Laure (2015) ‘L’attractivité de la Suisse - un facteur surévalué / Überbewertete Attraktivitätsdiskussion’. Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe (SFH) / Swiss Network of young Migration Scholars (9). Available at: https://www.fluechtlingshilfe.ch/fakten-statt-mythen.html.

Hercog, Metka and Siegel, Melissa (2015) ‘Promoting Circular International Migration of the Highly Skilled’, in Wiesbrock, Anja; Acosta Arcarazo, Diego (ed.) Global Migration Issues: Myths and Realities. Santa Barbara: ABC Clio (Global Migration Issues: Myths and Realities), pp. 153–179.

Members (4)

Walter Leimgruber

Principal Investigator

Metka Herzog

Project Member

Katrin Sontag

Project Member

Laure Sandoz

Project Member

Research Groups

Cultural Anthropology (Leimgruber)

NCCR On the Move: The Migration-Mobility Nexus: The Mobility of the Highly Skilled towards Switzerland

Research Project | 01.06.2014 - 31.05.2018

Collaborations & Cooperations

2018 - Participation or Organization of Collaborations on an international level

Wagner, Anne-Catherine., Prof. Dr., EDS-AES : Institut Administration Economique et Sociale ; UMR 8209 - CESSP - Centre européen de sociologie et de science politique, Universités de Paris, Research cooperation

2017 - Participation or Organization of Collaborations on a national level

D'Amato, Gianni, Prof. Dr., Schweizerisches Forum für Migrations- und Bevölkerungsstudien, Universität Neuchâtel, Joint PhD project

Publications

Sandoz, Laure (2019) Mobilities of the Highly Skilled towards Switzerland: The Role of Intermediaries in Defining ‘Wanted Immigrants’, IMISCOE Research Series. Cham: Springer (IMISCOE Research Series). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21122-6.

Hercog, Metka and Sandoz, Laure (2018) ‘Selecting the highly skilled: norms and practices of the Swiss admission system for non-EU immigrants’, Migration Letters, 15(4), pp. 503–515. Available at: https://doi.org/10.33182/ml.v15i4.2.

Hercog, Metka and Sandoz, Laure (2018) ‘Highly skilled or highly wanted migrants? Conceptualizations, policy designs and implementations of high-skilled migration policies’, Migration Letters, 15(4), pp. 453–460. Available at: https://doi.org/10.33182/ml.v15i4.534.

Sandoz, Laure (2018) ‘Understanding access to the labour market through migration channels’, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, pp. 1–20. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183x.2018.1502657.

Sandoz, Laure and Sontag, Katrin (2018) ‘Migration: Bruch oder Kontinuität?’, Fakten statt Mythen, 1 January. Available at: https://www.fluechtlingshilfe.ch/fakten-statt-mythen/beitraege-2018/migration-bruch-oder-kontinuitaet.html.

Sontag, Katrin (2018) ‘Highly Skilled Asylum Seekers: Case studies of refugee students at a Swiss university’, Migration Letters, 15(4), pp. 533–544. Available at: https://doi.org/10.33182/ml.v15i4.5.

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘Les compétences professionnelles sous-estimées des migrant·e·s’. Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe. Available at: http://blog.nccr-onthemove.ch/les-competences-professionnelles-sous-estimees-des-migrant%c2%b7e%c2%b7s/.

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘Que se passe-t-il aux frontières de l’Europe?’ Organisation Suisse d’Aide aux Réfugiés. Available at: http://blog.nccr-onthemove.ch/que-se-passe-t-il-aux-frontieres-de-leurope/?lang=fr.

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘‘Facts instead of Myths’: A Blog Project on Migration and Asylum’. SIETAR. Available at: http://sietar.ch/facts-instead-of-myths-a-blog-project-on-migration-and-asylum-by-laure-sandoz/.

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘Retour sur la notion de passeur’. Organisation Suisse d’Aide aux Réfugiés. Available at: https://www.fluechtlingshilfe.ch/fakten-statt-mythen/beitraege-2017/grenzen-schaffen-schlepper.html.

Sandoz, Laure (2017) ‘Voyager légalement : un privilège associé à la nationalité?’ Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe. Available at: http://blog.nccr-onthemove.ch/voyager-legalement-un-privilege-associe-a-la-nationalite/.

Leimgruber, Walter (2016) ‘Der Staat in Zeiten der grossen Wanderung. Ein historischer Blick auf die Migrationsdebatte’, NZZ Geschichte, 1 January, pp. 6–11.

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘‘Crise des réfugiés’ ou crise des inégalités? / ‘Flüchtlingskrise’ oder Gleichheitskrise?’ Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe (SFH) / Swiss Network of Young Migration Scholars. Available at: https://www.osar.ch/des-faits-plutot-que-des-mythes.html.

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘L’interminable chemin vers une place de travail / Der langwierige Weg zur Arbeitsstelle’. Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe (SFH) / Swiss Network of Young Migration Scholars (42). Available at: https://www.osar.ch/des-faits-plutot-que-des-mythes.html.

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘The Symbolic Value of Quotas in the Swiss Immigration System’. nccr - on the move / National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) for migration and mobility studies. Available at: http://nccr-onthemove.ch/highlights-1/highlights-1-5/.

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘‘Si tu perds ton travail, c’est fini.’​’, terra cognita - revue suisse de l’intégration et de la migration, 1 January, pp. 102–103. Available at: http://terra-cognita.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/terracognita/documents/terra_cognita_29.pdf.

Leimgruber, Walter (2016) ‘El desafío de la nueva inmigración a Suiza’, in Sánchez, Salvador Cayuela; Schriewer, Klaus (ed.) Cruzando fronteras. Nuevas perspectivas sobre migración, trabajo y bienestar. Barcelona: Editiones Bellaterra (Serie general universitaria), pp. 49–74.

Leimgruber, Walter (2016) ‘Demokratische Rechte auf Nicht-Staatsbürger ausweiten’, in Abbt, Christine; Rochel, Johan (ed.) Migrationsland Schweiz. 15 Vorschläge für die Zukunft. Baden: Hier und Jetzt (Migrationsland Schweiz. 15 Vorschläge für die Zukunft), pp. 21–37.

Leimgruber, Walter (2015) ‘Bildung ist Potenzial - auf allen Lebensstufen’, terra cognita. Schweizer Zeitschrift für Integration und Migration, 27(Herbst), pp. 82–85.

Sandoz, Laure (2015) ‘L’attractivité de la Suisse - un facteur surévalué / Überbewertete Attraktivitätsdiskussion’. Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe (SFH) / Swiss Network of young Migration Scholars (9). Available at: https://www.fluechtlingshilfe.ch/fakten-statt-mythen.html.

Hercog, Metka and Siegel, Melissa (2015) ‘Promoting Circular International Migration of the Highly Skilled’, in Wiesbrock, Anja; Acosta Arcarazo, Diego (ed.) Global Migration Issues: Myths and Realities. Santa Barbara: ABC Clio (Global Migration Issues: Myths and Realities), pp. 153–179.

Members (4)

Walter Leimgruber

Principal Investigator

Metka Herzog

Project Member

Katrin Sontag

Project Member

Laure Sandoz

Project Member

Research Groups

Cultural Anthropology (Leimgruber)

Research Project
|
01.06.2014
- 31.05.2018

Sandoz, Laure (2016) ‘‘Si tu perds ton travail, c’est fini.’’, terra cognita - revue suisse de l’intégration et de la migration, 1 January, pp. 102–103. Available at: http://terra-cognita.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/terracognita/documents/terra_cognita_29.pdf.