At the LDE GMD 10th Anniversary Conference, twelve interdisciplinary panels will highlight innovative research and practices from LDE universities and partners worldwide. Designed to connect research, practice, and community perspectives, the panels foster dialogue, share insights, and build relationships across academia, policy, and society. Topics range from diaspora-led crisis response, constructive dialogue in polarised debates, and measuring local anti-discrimination efforts to refugee integration, public opinion, and the role of migrant knowledge in circular economies. The programme also features panels led by GMD students and alumni.
12 Panels run in three rounds across the day (60 minutes each)
Overview (see abstract below)
Panel Round 1 — 11:45–12:45
50 Years of Dutch Migration Research: Reflections on Past, Present and Futures
- Organiser: Marlou Schrover (Leiden University)
- Panellists: Rinus Penninx, Han Entzinger, Nadia Bouras
Co-creating Peaceful Migration Dialogues in a Polarised World
- Organisers: Ingrid Mulder (TU Delft), Simona Vezzoli (ISS, EUR)
- Panellists: Piet Groot (Ministry of Justice & Security), Nina Staal (IOM), Ariele Empirio (Politecnico di Milano), with GMD students, alumni and attendees as active participants
Organising Otherwise? Rethinking State- and Market Centered Migration Governance Through Refugee- and Migrant-Led Initiatives
- Organiser: Watfa Najdi (ISS, EUR) and Lieke van der Veer (TUD)
- Panelists: Mohammed Badran (SYVNL), Daria Delawar-Kasmai (Opora Foundation), Kirsten de Mik (Justice & Peace Netherlands), Ahmad Wali Ahmad Yar (VU Brussels), Lieke van der Veer (TUD), Robert Larruina (VU Amsterdam)
GMD Leergang:
- Organiser: Peter Scholten (EUR)
Panel Round 2 — 13:45–14:45
The Integration of Recent Refugees in the Netherlands and Its Impact on Public Opinion
- Organiser: Olaf van Vliet (Leiden University & EUR)
- Panellists: Sheeling Neo, Agnieszka Kanas, Menno Fenger, Ben van Enk, Jaco Dagevos, Mieke Maliepaard, Leendert de Bell, Linda Bakker, Lars van Doorn, Anna-Lena Nadler, Olaf van Vliet
The Role of Measurement in Local Antidiscrimination Governance
- Organiser: Asya Pisarevskaya (EUR)
- Panellists: Kekeli Ayivi (EHESS), Dani Abdoellakhan (EUR), Lieke van der Veer (TU Delft), Asya Pisarevskaya (EUR), Marthe Schippers (Municipality of Rotterdam)
Researching the Scapegoat – Writing a PhD about Migration, Diversity, etc. in 2025
- Organiser: Moritz Jesse (Leiden Law School)
- Panellists: Rosa-Maria Mayerl, Emma de Vries, Alberto Estrada Mares, Konstantinos Lamprinoudis
GMD 10th Anniversary Alumni Roundtable – Looking Back, Moving Forward
- Organiser: Maria Horvat Kohutova (EUR)
- Panellists: Akke de Hoog, Pauline Overeem, Leonieke van Dordrecht, Leonard Daly, Sydney Cohee
Panel Round 3 — 15:00–16:00
The Migration Obsession: Why is the Netherlands So Obsessed with Migration?
- Organiser: Peter Scholten (EUR)
- Panellists: Leo Lucassen, Melek Erdogan, Saskia Bonjour, Mark van Ostaijen
Re-centering the Role of Diasporas in Times of Crisis: Insights and Practices from the Dutch Context
- Organisers: Gabriela Villacis (ISS-EUR), Haya AlFarra (ISS-EUR), Francesca Sofia Selano (Leiden University), Zeynep Kaşlı (ISS-EUR), Radhika Gupta (Leiden University)
- Panellists: Malika Ouacha (ZFI/Lilly School of Philanthropy & RSM), Amirhossein Chitsazzadeh (ADPC), Salwa Tareen (Leiden University), Eda Bener Akşam (Solidarity Kitchen NL)
What is the Role of Knowledge in the Social Inclusion of Migrants?
- Organisers: Johan Ninan (TU Delft), Antonella Maiello (Leiden University)
- Format: Interactive — audience as panellists
GMD Student Board x Fenix museum Roundtable - Stories in Motion: Migration Then, Now, and Ahead”
- GMD Student Board
- Rutger Doop (Fenix Museum conservator), Lillian Boutros (Fenix Museum conservator)
PANEL ABSTRACT
Panel Round 1 — 11:45–12:45
50 Years of Dutch Migration Research: Reflections on Past, Present and Futures
Organiser: Marlou Schrover, Leiden University
Panellists:
- Rinus Penninx
- Han Entzinger
- Nadia Bouras
Abstract:
Migration research in the Netherlands has a history of (almost) 50 years. This has led to a field that is situated at various Dutch universities, strongly interdisciplinary and methodologically diverse, and that is strongly internationally positioned. At the same time, the field’s relationship to political and policy developments is or remains an issue of contestation. Also the field has gone through a variety of ‘turns’ in response to growing demands on the field in terms of reflexivity at a conceptual and methodological level. This roundtable discusses the development of migration research so far, asking the question how and why the field has developed into its current state, what were key moments in its developments, and what are possible pathways for the future? This includes a discussion on what the main contributions of migration research so far have been, and how the field can relate further to policy, politics and media. This roundtable will also be the starting point for a joint initiative to celebrate the real anniversary of 50 years of Dutch migration research in the Netherlands in the coming years.
Co-creating Peaceful Migration Dialogues in a Polarised World
Organisers:
- Ingrid Mulder, Associate Professor, TU Delft (TUD)
- Simona Vezzoli, Researcher, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), EUR
Panellists:
- Piet Groot, Coordinator Kennisportaal Migratie, Ministry of Justice and Security
- Nina Staal, Head of Unit | Programme Coordinator, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
- Ariele Empirio, Design Researcher, Politecnico di Milano
- The session also invites GMD students, alumni, and attendees as active participants
Abstract:
The public debate on migration has become increasingly politicised and polarised. Framing migration and migrants as either highly negative or overly positive contributes to a growing ideological divide and hostility between groups, undermines constructive dialogue about migration, and damages trust among fellow citizens. Despite this polarisation, a vast majority lacks strong opinions on migration and/or holds ambivalent views. In a convivial and dialogical setting, we unpack two key questions: why do people find it difficult to express their moderate views on migration? And what hinders migration scholars from communicating with the more moderate segments of the population?
Organizing Otherwise? Refugee and Migrant-Led Alternatives to State-Centric Migration Governance
Organizers:
- Watfa Najdi, PhD Researcher, Institute of Social Studies, EUR.
- Lieke Van Der Veer, Postdoctoral Researcher, Delft University of Technology.
Panelists’ Information:
- Mohammed Badran, Founder, Syrian Volunteers in the Netherlands.
- Ahmad Wali Ahmad Yar, Post Doctoral Researcher, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Daria Delawar-Kasmai, Opora Foundation
- Lieke Van Der Veer, Postdoctoral Researcher, Delft University of Technology.
- Robert Larruina, Assistant Professor, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Kirsten de Mik, Programme coordinator Migration & Human Rights at Justice & Peace Netherlands.
Abstract:
What can refugee and migrant-led organizing teach us about the operations of and alternatives to present-day migration- and integration governance? In recent years, refugee and migrant-led initiatives have been celebrated as responders to institutional gaps and crises, but institutional support to these initiatives is increasingly pressured by hostile and neoliberal politics. This paradoxical situation creates dilemmas for refugee and migrant-led organizations. Drawing on research across Lebanon, Turkey, Belgium, and the Netherlands, this panel brings together academics, practitioners, and community organizers to examine the dynamics of migrant- and refugee-led organizing within and against institutional actors in migration and integration governance.
Panel Round 2 — 13:45–14:45
The Integration of Recent Refugees in the Netherlands and Its Impact on Public Opinion
Organiser:
- Olaf van Vliet, Leiden University & EUR
Panellists:
- Sheeling Neo, American University
- Agnieszka Kanas, EUR
- Menno Fenger, EUR
- Ben van Enk, WODC – Research and Data Centre & EUR
- Jaco Dagevos, Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP) & EUR
- Mieke Maliepaard, WODC – Research and Data Centre
- Leendert de Bell, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht & Utrecht University
- Linda Bakker, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
- Lars van Doorn, Leiden University
- Anna-Lena Nadler, University of Fribourg
- Olaf van Vliet, Leiden University & EUR
Abstract:
The arrival of Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands and other European countries raises the question of whether conventional wisdom about refugee integration provides an adequate framework for understanding the integration of recent refugees. This panel features three studies examining the integration of recent refugees from three different perspectives. The first study investigates the impact of labor market integration programs on the hiring decisions of Dutch public and private sector employers with regard to Ukrainian, Turkish, and Syrian refugees. The second study adopts a policy perspective. In particular, the study analyses the implications of settle-first compared to work-first policies for, respectively, Syrian and Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands. The third study examines how the arrival of Ukrainian refugees has impacted public opinion on refugees. This study relies on a unique natural experiment in the Netherlands to test the extent to which cultural proximity and perceptions of European solidarity causally relate to attitudes towards refugees.
The Role of Measurement in Local Antidiscrimination Governance
Organiser:
- Asya Pisarevskaya, Assistant Professor in Migration and Diversity Governance, EUR
Panellists:
- Kekeli Ayivi, MSc – former GMD Master guest-student 2024–2025; Alumna, L’École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS)
- Dani Abdoellakhan, MSc – GMD Master Alumnus 2024–2025, EUR
- Lieke van der Veer, Postdoctoral Researcher, TU Delft
- Asya Pisarevskaya, Assistant Professor, EUR
- Marthe Schippers, Municipality of Rotterdam, team Samenleven
Abstract:
This panel showcases quantitative and qualitative research on discrimination in urban contexts, and discusses the use of quantitative evidence in local anti-discrimination policy making. The researchers will present a snapshot of findings on discrimination in Rotterdam, covering the general patterns and grounds of discrimination, the role of origin, class and neighbourhood of residence in lived experiences of discrimination, as well as negative health effects produced by discrimination. Further, it will be discussed how discrimination experiences are responded to by individuals and (local) institutions, how data and evidence are used (and could be better used) to develop fitting policies and practices in addressing this issue. By understanding the strengths and limitations of existing knowledge production on discrimination and the dilemmas that policy-makers face while developing policies, this panel seeks to offer critical but informative perspective for both researchers and practitioners.
Researching the Scapegoat – Writing a PhD about Migration, Diversity, etc. in 2025
Organiser:
- Moritz Jesse, Leiden Law School, Jean Monnet Professor (MIND-EU)
Panellists:
- Rosa-Maria Mayerl, Faculty of Law, Vienna University – Challenging the ‘Gutmensch’ Label
- Emma de Vries, Faculty of Law, Leiden University – The Right to Academic Freedom in the ECHR
- Alberto Estrada Mares, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), EUR – Rethinking Migration and Transnational Gentrification
- Konstantinos Lamprinoudis, Faculty of Law, Leiden University – Non-Discrimination Law Today
Abstract:
Writing a PhD about any topic relating to migration, diversity, and/or any politically sensitive topic in today’s political and societal environment demands more than just academic skills. The polarization, politicization, and societal aggression circling around certain topics leaves a mark also on researchers. They have to cope with – at times – unfiltered criticism of their ideas. This panel gives the floor to four PhD candidates who are researching sensitive topics and explores how they operate in today’s environment.
GMD 10th Anniversary Alumni Roundtable – Looking Back, Moving Forward
Organiser:
- Maria Horvat Kohutova, PhD Candidate, Erasmus University (GMD PA track 2017–2018)
Panellists:
- Akke de Hoog – History, 2018–2019
- Pauline Overeem – Public Administration, 2023–2024
- Leonieke van Dordrecht – Public Administration, 2019–2020
- Leonard Daly – Sociology, 2023–2024
- Sydney Cohee – Development (ISS), 2022-2023
Abstract:
In this special panel, alumni from the past 10 years of the Governance of Migration and Diversity Masters reflect on what the programme has meant for them, both during their studies and in their professional journeys since. Together, they will share what knowledge, skills, and experiences they have carried into their careers, how the master shaped their perspectives on the field, and what they see as the most pressing needs for future practitioners. The panel offers not only a chance to look back but also to envision the future. It aims to explore how the center can strengthen connections between students and the field, and how it can evolve to support the next generation of experts in migration and diversity governance.
Panel Round 3 — 15:00–16:00
The Migration Obsession: Why is the Netherlands So Obsessed with Migration?
Organiser:
- Peter Scholten, EUR
Panellists:
- Leo Lucassen, International Institute of Social History (IISH)
- Melek Erdogan
- Saskia bonjour
- Mark van Ostaijen
Abstract:
With the conference organized on the day of the Dutch elections, this panel provides a roundtable discussion to reflect on the role of migration during the elections. Migration has been one of the most central political issues in the Netherlands for quite some time. Governments have fallen and have been formed over what is ‘experienced’ as a migration crisis. This crisis sensation also resonates strongly in the high degree of media attention and politicization of migration. During the roundtable, the panellists will not only reflect on the recent book by Scholten on The Migration Obsession, but will also reflect on the extent to which the latest elections were or were not driven by a migration obsession.
Re-centering the Role of Diasporas in Times of Crisis: Insights and Practices from the Dutch Context
Organisers:
- Gabriela Villacis, PhD researcher, ISS-EUR
- Haya AlFarra, PhD researcher, ISS-EUR
- Francesca Sofia Selano, PhD researcher, Leiden University
- Zeynep Kaşlı, Assistant Professor, ISS-EUR
- Radhika Gupta, Assistant Professor, Leiden University
Panellists:
- Malika Ouacha, Adjunct-Assistant Professor, ZFI (Lilly School of Philanthropy, IU) & Research Fellow, RSM
- Amirhossein Chitsazzadeh, African Diaspora Policy Centre (ADPC)
- Salwa Tareen, Postdoctoral Researcher, Leiden University
- Eda Bener Akşam, Solidarity Kitchen NL
Abstract:
Recent global geopolitical changes, including the dismantling of USAID and cuts to EU and Dutch aid budgets, have forced international organisations to scale down operations and seek alternative funding sources. This has prompted reconsideration of engagement with diasporas, whose contributions are often reductively viewed as mere remittances or viewed with suspicion. Motivated by belonging, responsibility, and obligation, diasporas serve as first responders during crises, disasters, and conflicts. They provide immediate humanitarian assistance, fundraise, and advocate using their local knowledge, community relations, and transnational networks. Their philanthropic involvement in ancestral countries demonstrates how belonging transcends host society recognition and operates relationally across contested borders. Our roundtable initiates a dialogue around the LDE GMD seed grant 2025 ('Beyond Remittances: Diasporic aid and care in times of crises'), inviting societal actors to share experiences regarding Dutch diaspora communities' crisis engagement with ancestral countries.
What is the Role of Knowledge in the Social Inclusion of Migrants?
Organisers:
- Johan Ninan, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, TU Delft
- Antonella Maiello, Assistant Professor of Governance of Sustainability, Leiden University
Panellists:
- All audience members (interactive session)
Abstract:
What does it mean to treat knowledge as a pathway to migrant inclusion? This panel explores how knowledge in repair and maintenance in sectors such as textile repair and building renovations can foster both the circular economy and social integration. Migrants sustain vital urban economies and circular practices, yet their expertise often remains undervalued in governance and policy. This session turns the traditional panel format on its head: the audience becomes the panellists, thereby taking part in transdisciplinary knowledge creation. Using the interactive Now–How–Wow matrix, participants will co-create ideas on how migrant knowledge can be recognised and leveraged for inclusive futures. Together, we will classify proposals as ‘Now’ (feasible), ‘How’ (innovative but challenging), or ‘Wow’ (both feasible and transformative). By positioning participants as co-creators, the panel becomes a collective exercise, and the outcome will be a set of actionable strategies which rethink the relationship between migrant knowledge, sustainability, and governance.
GMD Student Board x Fenix Museum Roundtable -
“Stories in Motion: Migration Then, Now, and Ahead”
This panel explores how stories of migration, past and present, can influence future approaches to inclusion and governance, by highlighting the role of cultural institutions (Fénix Museum) in shaping storytelling and collective historical memory.
- Organized by GMD Student Board and moderated by Candela B. Estévez
Panellists
- Rutger Doop (Fenix Museum conservator, Curator of the Suitcase Labyrinth exhibition),
- Lillian Boutros (Fenix Museum conservator)