Good morning and welcome to the 35th AEMI conference.
Dear colleagues,
It is both a great honour and a pleasure to welcome you all to this year’s AEMI conference. On behalf of the board of AEMI, I thank you all for being here and for contributing to what I am confident will be a series of rich, challenging and inspiring conversations.
Before we begin, let me express my gratitude to a few individuals and institutions without whom this conference would not have been possible:
- First, a warm thank you to Mr. Al Ghusain, Head of Cultural Affairs of the City of Essen, whose support has been instrumental in bringing the conference to life.
- I also want to extend our sincere thanks to Prof. Heinrich Theodor Grütter, Director of the Ruhr Museum and Mr. Osses, Deputy Director of the Ruhr Museum, for his collaboration and for opening the doors of this unique and historic venue to us.
- And finally, a special thanks to Mrs. Kono-Patel, Head of Interkultur Ruhr at the Ruhr Regional Association, for accepting our invitation to deliver today’s keynote. We are truly looking forward to your insights and reflections.
To all our partners, speakers, and chairs: thank you for being here in Essen with us. Whether you are a long-time AEMI member or joining us for the first time, you are part of a growing network committed to advancing the understanding of migration through research, dialogue, and collaboration across borders, disciplines, and institutions. Thank you for being part of this shared mission.
This year’s conference theme could hardly be more timely or more necessary. Migration continues to shape Europe and the world in profound ways. And yet, our public and academic discourses often struggle to capture the complexity and diversity of migration experiences, especially when it comes to the intersections of gender and generation. However, it is precisely in these intersections – in the spaces where individual stories meet broader historical and structural forces – that we find some of the most pressing questions and answers of our time.
Europe’s history is one of continuous movement – of people arriving, leaving, returning, settling, and reshaping societies across centuries. This raises profound questions: How do memories, traumas, and cultural ties travel through generations? And how do generational differences shape not only identity, but also political engagement, community belonging, and cultural expression? By looking at the transmission of migration stories across generations, we can begin to understand not only historical continuities but also ruptures; changes in policy, shifts in social norms, and evolving notions of belonging, family, and community.
Although migration is a profoundly old phenomenon, its character today is youthful. Recent statistics show that a disproportionate number of migrants in Europe today are between the ages of 20 and 49. This age group represents not only economic potential, but also creativity, resilience, and ambition. Their experiences are as diverse as their motivations. They challenge established institutions, policies, and narratives to evolve – recognizing that migration is not just a statistic, but a dynamic force seeking to build lives, futures, and belonging across borders.
But age is only one lens through which we must understand migration. Gendered dimensions are equally crucial, yet often overlooked. Gender shapes not only the reasons for migration, but also the risks encountered, the roles assumed, and the opportunities gained or denied along the way.
Understanding the nuanced intersection of gender and generation can help us analyse structural inequalities and changing patterns of mobility. This is not simply an academic exercise. These insights shape how we design policies, build institutions, and strengthen inclusive societies. Therefore, we must also recognize the need to challenge ourselves – to ask new questions, to engage new voices, and to reflect critically on our own practices.
This conference is an important part of that ongoing process. Over the next few days, we will examine sources, share methodologies, and create new collaborations. And we will do so with a shared commitment: to deepen our understanding of migration, not just as a movement, but as experiences; not just as statistics, but as stories; not just as history, but as a living, changing reality.
Let me end by encouraging you all to share your inspiring and innovative insights, knowledge, and experiences and to participate in this important interdisciplinary dialogue.
Thank you.
