FuturMig - Research Area ›Futures of Migration‹

In Lower Saxony's research area ›FuturMig‹ (2025–2029), the Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies (IMIS) at Osnabrück University, the Center for Global Migration Research (CeMig) at Georg August University in Göttingen, the Center for Diversity, Democracy and Inclusion in Education (ZBI) at the University of Hildesheim, the Leibniz Institute for Educational Media, Georg Eckert Institute (GEI) in Braunschweig, and the Friedland Museum.

The research area focuses on ideas and strategies for shaping the future of societies affected by migration, in the context of political, media and social debates, practical areas and migration research. FuturMig plans to conduct a scientific inventory, establish an international visiting professorship and develop a joint follow-up research project.

FuturMig focuses in particular on educational contexts - preschools, schools, universities, civil society initiatives, museums, and memorial sites. As part of the project, a cross-university certificate is being developed to prepare students, teachers, and specialists as effectively as possible for the (reflexive) handling of migration-related diversity as a demographic norm. In a real-world laboratory for history and remembrance culture, participation formats and interventions are being tested, and discussions are being held with social organisations and groups.

IMIS coordinates the research area, which works closely with the  Collaborative Research Centre ›Production of Migration‹ (SFB 1604). With the research areas programme ("Wissenschaftsräume"), the state of Lower Saxony and the Volkswagen Foundation support collaboration between universities and non-university research institutions in Lower Saxony.

Newsflash

Immigration policy for a shrinking world: A case study of demography and immigration in Canada

As part of the Geographical Colloquium, FuturMig hosts Prof. Dan Hiebert on ageing, low fertility, and Canada’s reliance on immigration on 26 May, 16.15 - 17.45, (Lecture Hall 02/E04)

© Yalız Akbaba, Constantin Wagner

Rethinking the Future of Higher Education: Decolonial Perspectives in Teaching

Workshop Recap from Göttingen: Yalız Akbaba and Constantin Wagner engaged participants in discussions on decolonial perspectives and the futures of higher education. Insights, reflection, and exchange on opportunities and challenges in teaching and research.

© Elisa La

FuturMig Network Meeting at Museum Friedland

The FuturMig team met at Museum Friedland to discuss migration and the future: narratives, temporal perspectives, and implications for education. The Real and Future Lab promotes inclusive perspectives and new visions.

Imagining the future in the context of racism

FuturMig Lecture Series with Prof. Dr. Aysun Doğmuş (TU Berlin) on 17 March 2026, 4.15 - 5.45 pm

Colonial past - decolonial future? Shaping the university of the migration society (A/B)

Workshops offered by the FuturMig network partner University of Göttingen in cooperation with the Decolonizing University Göttingen network. This workshop will take place in German.

Visions of the future and educational decisions in the context of transnational (educational) biographies

FuturMig Lecture Series with Dr. Matthias Wagner (University of Cologne) on February 10, 2026, 4.15 - 5.45 pm

The role of the labour market shortage narrative in the negotiation of future society visions

FuturMig Lecture Series with Dr. Zeynep Yanaşmayan(DeZIM) on 20 January, 16:15 - 17:45

FuturMig Lecture Series: Lecture series on the futures of migration

The FuturMig Lecture Series starts this winter semester with three inspiring lectures.

© Elisa La

Theater of the future: Transcultural practice in dialogue

At a joint event organized by IMIB, Soli*City and FuturMig, theater agents provided insights into transcultural theater work and discussed what a theater of the future could look like in a diverse migration society.

© Philipp Schäfer

Experiencing Migration History: IMIB Students Visit the Friedland Museum

In mid-November, 20 IMIB students visited the Friedland Museum. At the historic border transit camp, they discussed historical and current migration as well as the challenges of museum education.