Members of the research team for the project conduct in-depth studies of Polish immigrant organizations in selected European countries (Germany, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain). The case studies carried out in this research phase will allow to gain knowledge about the condition of these organizations and to understand the social processes that take place.

Representatives of Polish immigrant organizations interested in taking part in the study at this project stage are invited to contact the coordinator of empirical works – Dr. Witold Nowak (witold.nowak@uw.edu.pl).

Conducting of institutional surveys has begun. The surveys will enable to gather extensive knowledge about the operation of organizational environments of Polish diaspora in selected European countries (Germany, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain). The project is financed by the National Science Centre with headquarter in Krakow. More information on the research aims available here.

Participation in the project gives the opportunity to Polish organizations to take part in the discussion and allows them to indicate troubling problems.

All Polish diaspora associations interested in participating in the study and completing questionnaire are invited to notify us about their intention by sending a message to the email address: (witold.nowak@uw.edu.pl).

On Friday, November 25, 2016, a seminar of the research team for the “Polish immigrant organizations in Europe” project financed by the National Science Centre was held at the Poznań Institute for Western Affairs. The seminar participants included: Dr. Michał Nowosielski, Dr. Witold Nowak and Dr. Jacek Kubera of the Institute for Western Affairs and members of the research team: Dr. Roch Dunin-Wąsowicz (London School of Economics), Dr. Agnieszka Legut (Pedagogical University of Cracow), Ignacy Jóźwiak (Centre of Migration Research, Warsaw University), Dr. Magdalena López Rodríguez (Middlesex University), Marcin Fronia (Institute of Philosophy and Sociology Polish Academy of Sciences), Marcin Paszko (Complutense University of Madrid) and Dr. Łukasz Pomiankiewicz.

The seminar was oriented to experience exchange based on current fieldwork and to discuss obtained research results. Members of the research team had the opportunity to present outcomes of conducted both literature and documentation queries and interviews with the representatives of institutions responsible for integration policy in selected host countries. Participants of the seminar discussed the results of their work with regard to the project objectives including verification of the explaining model, that was proposed in the project planning phase.

We would like to thank all seminar participants for coming to the Institute for Western Affairs in Poznań and for the fruitful meeting!

The research team for the “Polish immigrant organizations in Europe” project finished conducting literature and documentation queries on the characteristics of the migration process and the immigrant community in host countries, the characteristics of host countries (with the particular focus on objectives and implementation of immigration and integration policies and the dominant attitudes of host societies in relation to immigrants and their organizations) and also on the bilateral relations between Poland and host countries. The reports from this particular research phase, will be available here in the late 2017.

On Wednesday, October 28, 2015, a seminar of the research team for the “Polish immigrant organizations in Europe” project was held at the Poznań Institute for Western Affairs. The seminar participants included: Dr. Michał Nowosielski and Witold Nowak of the Institute for Western Affairs and members of the research team: Dr. Michał Garapich (University of Roehampton), Dr. Agnieszka Legut (Pedagogical University of Cracow), Dr. Joanna Leska-Ślęzak (University of Gdańsk), Magdalena López Rodríguez (Middlesex University), Dr. Piotr Plewa (Ministry of Labor and Social Policy) and Dr. Mikołaj Stanek (Complutense University of Madrid, University of Coimbra). It was also attended by Wojciech Tyciński of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Director of the Department for Cooperation with the Polish Community and Poles Abroad).

The seminar was aimed at bringing members of the newly recruited team closer together and launching the concept development phase of the project. The initial discussions extended to the project goals and detailed research objectives. These helped formulate specific concepts and the overall project framework. The seminar participants subsequently proceeded to design qualitative research instruments to be applied during the fieldwork, which was scheduled to begin in 2016.

I wish to thank all seminar participants for coming to Poznań and for the valuable contributions which they tirelessly provided during our meeting!