hero-catedra-inmigracion CHAIR OF IMMIGRATION | UFV Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

Who are we?

The Chair of Immigration is a research-oriented department that began its development at Francisco de Vitoria University in the 2006/2007 academic year. Following the experience of participating in a European project called "EQUAL Profís," the need to research the challenges and fundamentals of social integration for people of immigrant origin became apparent.

During the first ten years of this Chair's existence, research projects have been carried out on the reality of immigrants in Spain in terms of employment, family, the media, anthropological and religious dimensions, social entrepreneurship, the reality of immigrant women, the factor of training, and, in recent years, there has been an in-depth reflection on the challenges faced by refugees.

This department has organized a master's degree in Migration and Development, several international conferences, workshops with expert groups, lectures, etc. It also collaborates with various undergraduate and graduate training initiatives, both on and off campus. We attend international and national conferences, collaborate with the media, and have published a trilingual glossary on integration, as well as books and scientific articles.

In the 2020/21 academic year, the Chair has obtained funding for a competitive project from the 2019 call for grants to promote scientific, technological, and innovation culture, entitled "Building a new migrant narrative through tweets," with reference FCT-19-15454.

The chair currently falls under the Center for Global Common Good, a think tank promoted by the UFV's Faculty of Law, Business, and Government.

quienes somos CHAIR OF IMMIGRATION | UFV Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

Mission, vision, and values

Mission

Our mission revolves around researching the reality of migration in Spain and different aspects that promote two-way integration.

The overall objective is to provide a space for research, training, and dissemination to contribute to the social integration of immigrants in Spain. The specific objectives of the Chair are as follows:

To rigorously research and analyze the fundamentals of the social integration of immigrants and other relevant aspects of the reality of migration and refugees in Spain.

Training. Offering training opportunities and programs to professionals who work with immigrants, providing courses, workshops, meetings, and high-level training (posgrado, máster, especializaciones…).

Disseminate. Publish the most significant results of our research in high-impact national and international journals.

Participate in conferences and other notable events organized nationally and internationally on migration issues to renew knowledge and share experiences.

Vision

We want Francisco de Vitoria University to be recognized for its commitment to immigrants through a research department that is rigorous in its approach and expert in the humanistic principles that defend the equal dignity of all people and the need for social integration of every human being.

Values

We are inspired by the thinking and values of the humanist Francisco de Vitoria and the principles of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church, especially in:

Defending the dignity of every human being as the center of society

The universality of human rights

Research areas

Social integration and rural repopulation

Social integration involves migrants and communities sharing a common path, promoting shared responsibility and coexistence. The Chair of Immigration studies this process, highlighting the Habita Tierra project, which supports families in putting down roots in rural areas.

Migrant narratives

This line of research analyzes how language related to migration is used in different media, including print, audiovisual, and social media. We have analyzed migration narratives in elections, in the world of fiction series, on social media, and in cinema. We have also held awareness-raising workshops based on a guide we have published on the appropriate use of narratives that focus on the dignity of all human beings and enable spaces for encounter rather than social exclusion.

Projects

Inhabits Earth

A sustainable rural repopulation project that settles immigrant families in depopulated municipalities, combining housing, employment, and academic study. Since 2022 in Ávila, it has generated jobs, new businesses, population growth, and school enrollment for children, promoting integration and local development.

A Diverse Family

Each person is unique and irreplaceable. Recognizing our differences makes us marvel at and respect the diversity of each member of the UFV family.

Academic output

Books

GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR INTEGRATION

This glossary is the result of a joint effort by the members of the transnational E-Qual Meeting Point project: Profis (España), Geforme (Francia), Creuse'ac (Francia – Creuse), Gente Acolhedora (Portugal), and NZTPD (Eslovaquia), under the direction of the Profis group (Proyecto par la Formación y la Integración Social). Some of the terms defined are: welcoming, adaptation, contribution to society, asylum, assimilation, citizen, etc.

Technical data

Editors: Miguel Osorio García de Oteyza; Joaquín Saldaña Cebello; Profís/UFV Social Foundation.

D.L M27420 – 2007.

INTEGRATION CHALLENGES. SECOND STUDY ON THE INTEGRATION OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE COMMUNITY OF MADRID

In the Community of Madrid, immigrants are integrating well, as demonstrated by their high employment rate and high level of satisfaction.

Technical data

Coordinated by: Chair of Immigration. Francisco de Vitoria University.

Subsidized by: General Directorate of Immigration; Department of Immigration and Cooperation, Community of Madrid.

Collaboration: eQual Profís Project, co-financed by the European Social Fund and the Regional Ministry of Family and Social Affairs of the Community of Madrid.

D.L.: M.6106 – 2008.

PERSONAL DIMENSION OF INTEGRATION

Conversations on Integration are meetings that bring together experts on this subject, motivated by the social events taking place in Spain as a result of the massive arrival of immigrants. It aims to encourage participation and research into proposals that help to share and harmoniously shape the thinking and coexistence of those who will shape the history of our present and future society.

This book contains various papers, including: José – Román Flecha Andrés (Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca), Rosalía Portela Rico (Cáritas Madrid), Luis González – Carvajal Santabárbara, SJ (Universidad Pontificia de Comillas),…

Technical data

D.L: M.41838 – 2007

RELIGIOUS DIMENSION OF INTEGRATION

This study aims to gain an adequate understanding of the problems and points of view of the immigrant population in the Community of Madrid. Some of the results obtained in this study showed us the following:

Economic motivations are fundamental. The choice of Spain as a destination is based on: geographical proximity, contacts with relatives and/or friends, the language, facilities, and abundance of work. Eleven percent of immigrants passed through another European country before arriving in Spain. Forty-three point two percent said they would stay in Spain for a while and then return to their country of origin. Fifty-one percent believe that their expectations have been met. Eighty-point four percent have improved their standard of living.

Technical data

D.L: M.6106-2008

ENTREPRENEURIAL IMMIGRANTS IN TIMES OF CRISIS

The assessment that had been made of the contribution of the three million foreign workers (el 14% del total de los trabajadores en España) to our economy has been very positive in terms of boosting consumption, maintaining the supply of traditional trades and services that are no longer so attractive to locals, making the labor market more flexible, supporting work-life balance, GDP growth, etc.However, with the evidence of the negative effects of the economic crisis that Spain has been experiencing since 2007, this group is suffering from 21% unemployment, as well as a lack of recognition and even rejection.

Technical data

D.L.: M-49726-2010

Guide to a new migrant narrative

Book chapters

Latin American immigration and sociocultural integration in the Community of Madrid. Keys to understanding Latin American immigration in Spain 449–477. Osorio, M. (2013)

The differences between social action and corporate social responsibility. Reflections on corporate social responsibility in the 21st century