Ukrainian Labour Migration to Europe During the War: A Review of Current Realities

International migration plays an important role in shaping the global economy, serving as both a source of financial resources for countries and a means of balancing demographic and labour disparities across nations. Labour migration, in particular, is integral to the redistribution of labour and capital, influenced by varying levels of economic development, natural resource availability, and technological progress. While globalisation has facilitated the movement of people and strengthened international cooperation, migration patterns are significantly affected by military conflicts. The ongoing war in Ukraine has intensified these dynamics, prompting a significant outflow of Ukrainian labour to Europe. This review explores the economic, social, and demographic impacts of this migration, analysing its effects on host countries and the complex challenges it poses for Ukraine, particularly regarding demographic stability and post-war reconstruction

Yellow wattle (Acacia) - Three versions - English, Spanish, Indonesian

Ian Campbell’s trilingual poem series explores the Acacia genus, Australia’s national floral emblem, across English, Spanish, and Indonesian. Inspired by Campbell’s family history and A.J. Campbell’s 1921 Golden Wattle – Our National Floral Emblem, the series examines the cultural and ecological significance of Acacia in Australia, Latin America, and Indonesia. Each version reflects linguistic and regional nuances, showcasing how the essence of a shared theme transforms across languages

Youth knowledge mobilization: Reflections on theory and practice

This article explores knowledge mobilisation in youth research. We take as a starting point that youth knowledge mobilisation (YKMb) requires specific strategies because of the unique power dynamics involved in mobilising knowledge related to young people. However, existing knowledge mobilisation models cannot account for these specificities. YKMb often requires co-creation with partner organisations as well as with youth themselves, leading to diverse and sometimes fragmented approaches to YKMb. An overarching discussion about the theory and practice of YKMb is missing from the literature. To explore the factors that influence the diversity of approaches to YKMb, we take up reflexivity to explore the experiences of a YKMb Chair working in intersectoral partnerships as well as with young people in Quebec, Canada. This article features an emergent YKMb framework that conceptualises a continuum of approaches to mobilising knowledge about, for, with and by youth. Across these modes of working, several factors influence YKMb in practice, from research paradigm and context as well as specificities regarding which actors are involved and why these different actors want to mobilise knowledge, as well as what roles different actors play in knowledge production and mobilisation. These factors influence the continuum of roles that academic researchers may play in YKMb, from more traditional roles as knowledge translators to engaged roles such as facilitators, advocates and learners. Conceptualising YKMb through continuums of practice offers critical insights to support intersectoral and interdisciplinary teams of academic researchers, partners and young people in research co-creation to better bridge the gap between research and practice

Looking Ahead with the New International Studies

As I write this, the world seems to be in a more precarious position than it was 30 years ago, when the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BAIS) at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) was established. In 1994, the Cold War appeared to have come to an end. That year an Accord was signed between Israel and Palestine, and Yasir Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin won the Nobel Peace Prize. The discourse around global climate crisis had not yet emerged. The sharpened international geopolitical situation since 1994 cannot be sheeted home to our program, of course. But in 2024 the need for graduates with the skills, insights and cultural intelligence that language and culture learning and an immersive overseas experience gives—that our international studies students possess in spades—has clearly not diminished, hence the evolution of the BAIS into the Bachelor of International Studies and its exciting new options for international education

El Estallido Social and ICS Chile 2019

This reflection recounts the extraordinary experiences of the 2019 In-Country Study (ICS) Chile cohort during Chile’s Estallido Social, a period of intense social and political unrest. Despite facing immense challenges, including civil unrest and disruptions to their studies, the students demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to their host communities. Through their collective efforts and independent explorations of Chilean society, they exemplified the global citizenship and intercultural skills nurtured in the International Studies program

A methodological framework to assess the employment impacts of transport infrastructure construction

The aim of this study was to suggest a methodological evaluation framework for assessing the employment impacts of transport infrastructure construction. The applicability and usability of different ex-ante employment impact assessment methods were evaluated. Commonly, the employment impacts during construction are used as a justification for investment decisions. In this study, we tested three commonly used methods to estimate the employment impacts during the construction of three real-life case studies and compared the results to the known impacts of these projects. The results indicate that transport infrastructure construction is not an effective means of employment policy nationwide. This is partly due to insufficient labor supply in the infrastructure engineering and construction industries. A higher employment rate on a national level would require an increase in labor supply instead of an increase in labor demand. However, even though the national net impact on employment was close to zero, the gross regional impact on employment would still be useful information in project planning. The methodological framework, presented in this paper, helps to manage the employment impacts of transport infrastructure construction in a proper context

Immigrant Inclusion and Municipalism in a Danish Context

This paper explores municipalism in a Danish context. The notion of municipalism has over the last decade gained both renewed academic traction and developed as a political practice, especially in a Southern European context. Within this framework, municipalities have sought to develop alternative policy frameworks targeting societal challenges such as climate change, sustainability, diversity and also immigrant inclusion and integration. These pathways to inclusion frequently challenge the often restrictive national policy frameworks. However, current investigations of municipalism also argue that we have seen the peak of this kind of framework and identify less room for manoeuvre on the local level in terms of developing approaches different to the national ones. This paper asks if we can identify municipalism in a Danish context, what may have shaped such relations, and discusses its potential and limitations. It draws on interviews with politicians and civil servants in three larger Danish cities

Suitability of basalt textile reinforced granite-periwinkle shell concrete for sustainable construction in Nigeria

Multiple construction methods have been researched and implemented to reduce the harmful effects of construction on society such as using alternative strengthening materials and aggregates in concrete. This study investigates the suitability of granite (G) - periwinkle shell (PS) as coarse aggregate in concrete for construction. The objectives are to determine the mechanical properties of G-PS concrete confined and not confined in basalt textile (BT), the possibility of achieving lightweight concrete, the durability of the G-PS concrete, and the impact of BT and PS on the construction economy. Slump, density, compressive strength, split tensile, modulus of elasticity, and water absorption tests were conducted on 108 concrete cubes and 180 concrete cylinders and analyzed to determine the behavior of the concrete. From the experiments, the workability of the concrete mix, density, and mechanical properties of the concrete reduced with a decrease in the percentages of granite and an increase in the percentages of PSs. The concrete with 100%G and 0%PS had the highest slump value of 7cm while the concrete with 0%G and 100%PS recorded the lowest slump value of 2.5cm. Confining BT on the concrete cylinders improved their mechanical properties. Though concrete with 100%G and 0%PS proved to have the best strength, this study concludes that PS concrete is suitable for light constructions and load-bearing structural members as the strength of concrete having some percentages of PS proved to be good and even better when confined in BT. It was also observed in a discussion that this concrete type is economical and easy to manage in construction. It is recommended to implement this type of concrete in the construction of structural members because the properties of this concrete are suitable for the Nigerian environment and incorporating PSs in construction is a sustainable means and a way to facilitate the actualization of the sustainable development goal “Sustainable Cities and Communities and Responsible Production and Consumption"

The Challenges of Immigrant Policy Formation in Trinidad and Tobago: A Civil Society Perspective

In 2019, the government of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) embarked on a Venezuelan Registration Exercise with over 16,000 Venezuelan nationals registered. The migratory flows such as the present experience have highlighted the weaknesses in the existing national policy framework of T&T. The inclusion of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the process of policy formation has been limited, while communication with governmental stakeholders to solve the challenges has been underwhelming. The present study conducted interviews with 12 CSOs in T&T with the objective of identifying the challenges they face in forming and implementing migrant policy, their experiences with political stakeholders, and their expectations of future collaboration. The research findings propose the need for the Civil Society Network in T&T and the Caribbean region to address the escalating migratory crisis

Informal Employment and Inequality: Implications for Migration in Sub-Saharan Africa

A sizable level of informal employment, often stemming from social disparities and limited economic opportunities, can have great implications for migration in Sub-Sahara Africa. Similarly, inequality, particularly unequal access to economic resources in the formal sector, can serve as a key driver for migration as people seek better opportunities. Therefore, this study investigates the individual impact of the size of informal employment and inequality on migration within the region by examining the individual effects of informal employment and inequality as well as their interactive effect on migration. Utilizing System GMM method of analysis, the study examined the data from 43 Sub-Saharan African countries from 2009 to 2022. The findings suggest that both informal employment and inequality positively influence migration flows in the region. Additionally, the analysis shows that the interaction between informal employment and inequality exerts a negative effect on migration flow