About the project
Our workshop programme builds Tunisian Early Career Researchers (ECRs) research capacity, focusing on the ‘wicked issue’ (Curtis, 2010) of migration within Tunisia. Specifically, we will investigate:
- transit migration and mixed migration flows of refugees, victims of trafficking and people seeking better lives and opportunities, into and out of Tunisia
- migrant solidarity and resistance in Tunisia using digital spaces
- migrant women’s unmet reproductive health needs
Our workshop programme will broker durable and inclusive connections between Tunisian ECRs across the humanities and social sciences, and senior UK and Tunisian academics, developing scholarship and securing pathways to societal impact. We do so through an integrated programme of publications/funding applications, mentoring and networking with established scholars and journal editors. Meeting these challenges is crucial for Tunisia’s capacity to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 and 10, and the Tunisian Republic’s National Migration Strategy (2018).
Primary applicant
Dr Federica Mazzara (University of Westminster)
Co-applicants
Dr Samira Mechri (University Tunis El-Manar)
Dr Lilian Miles (University of Westminster)
Dr Tim Freeman (Middlesex University)
Dr Saskia Huc-Hepher (University of Westminster)
Dr Rim Triki (University Tunis El-Manar)
Dr Nicola Pizzolato (Middlesex University)
Call for applicants
The British Academy Writing Workshop Migrants in Transit: A transdisciplinary writing programme for emerging scholars of migration in Tunisia, is open for expressions of interest from PhD students and Early Career Researchers (ECRs) based in Tunisia for a four-day residential workshop in Tunis (12–15 September 2023). Led by the University of Westminster (UK), Middlesex University (UK) and University of Tunis El-Manar, the workshop is designed to foster scholarship within the Humanities and Social Sciences, placing participants in dialogue, supported by established academics and journal editors from Tunisia and the United Kingdom. The programme – delivered in English – will enable participants to:
- improve their academic writing and their understanding of editorial, review, and publishing processes
- publish original research within appropriate high-ranking academic journals
- develop extensive academic and practitioner networks –enabling them to develop strong collaborations to address challenges under SDG 3 and SDG 10
- improve their knowledge, understanding, and skills related to external funding
- produce high-quality funding applications, in co-production with academics and practitioners
The workshop is geared towards research on migration, responding to objective 4.1 of the Tunisian Republic’s National Migration Strategy (2018), which explicitly calls for the ‘development of knowledge relative to migration’ and to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), specifically SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and SDG 10 (Reduction of Inequality within and amongst countries). We welcome expressions of interest for participants whose papers reflect one (or more) of the following migration themes:
- Transit migration (SDG 10)
- Building solidarity using digital spaces (SDG 10)
- Meeting migrant women’s reproductive health needs (SDG 3)
The four-day workshop will provide practical support to help attendees make their research idea clear and compelling to reviewers, and finalise their papers for publication. One-to-one sessions with our expert mentors will allow attendees to work through different aspects of their own research papers, methods and ideas.
After the four-day workshop, participants will receive ongoing support from mentors, to guide them through finalising papers, and the submission, review and resubmission processes. They will receive additional support in relation to developing research funding grants.
The workshop will take place at University of Tunis el-Manar Higher Institute of Human Sciences of Tunis.
Eligibility
You must be:
- a PhD student or an Early Career Researcher (ECR) (ie within eight years of the PhD Award)
- affiliated to a Tunisian University
- available to attend in person between 12–15 September 2023
- working on one of the three migration themes identified above
Applicants from minority backgrounds and/or with atypical career trajectories are particularly welcome. Please indicate any specific Equality, Diversity and Inclusions considerations in your statement.
How to Apply
Please complete the application form by 15 August 2023. If you cannot access the form, please try opening the link in a different browser.
You will need to include:
- A personal statement (maximum 250 words) including your envisaged contribution to the workshop and your motivation for joining
- A 300-word abstract of a paper you would like to develop for publication
- A 2000-word summary or extract from your paper. This might, for instance, include an introduction and a methodological part, or be an extended outline of your envisaged paper
- A CV (three pages maximum), including previous publications and funding, if any
All materials must be submitted in English. You will be informed about your admission by the end of August. The workshop will take place on 12–15 September 2023 in Tunis.
Financial Support
Travel expenses within Tunisia and meals during the day for the four days will be covered. Accommodation for the 4 days will be covered for the ECRs who live outside Tunis (i.e. other Tunisian regions).