On 23-25 September 2026, the 15th Conference of the Committee for Migration Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, entitled ‘Emigration, immigration and integration in an era of social and political polarisation’, took place in Gdańsk and Gdynia. The event was co-organised by the Self-Government of the Pomorskie Voivodeship, and held under the honorary patronage of Mieczysław Struk, Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship.
The conference brought together academics from Poland and abroad, representatives of public administration, civil society organisations and practitioners working in the fields of migration policy and integration. This was the first international edition of this important academic event.
Migration at the heart of the debate
During the event, discussions centred on contemporary migration processes, the experiences of male and female migrants, the functioning of diasporas, migration policies and integration practices. Another key topic was social and political polarisation and its impact on the way the debate on migration and integration processes is conducted.
Participants emphasised the importance of dialogue, the exchange of knowledge and experiences, and conducting the debate on migration based on sound knowledge and taking into account the diversity of experiences.
The Theory and Practice of Migration Policy
Agnieszka Baranowska, a Member of the Executive Board of the Pomorskie Voivodeship, took part in the opening of the conference. The Self-Government of the Pomorskie Voivodeship was also represented by Paulina Sieradzan, team coordinator in the Migration Policy Unit, who took part in one of the panel discussions.
Co-organising the conference provided an opportunity for an exchange of experiences between the academic community, public administration and the civil society sector. For the Self-Government of the Pomorskie Voivodeship, it also served as a platform to present the region’s experiences in the field of migration policy and integration measures.
An interdisciplinary perspective on migration
The conference programme covered a broad spectrum of issues, ranging from the experiences of emigrants and immigrants, through media and political discourse, to the functioning of diasporas, integration and the impact of migration on local communities and institutions. The discussions brought together perspectives from, amongst others, sociology, political science, psychology, anthropology, history, economics, geography and cultural studies.
Hosting the conference in Gdańsk and Gdynia also provided a forum for discussing migration from the perspective of Pomerania – a region with a long history of mobility, international contacts and the meeting of different cultures.
Organisers: the Committee for Migration Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Centre for Sustainable Development at the University of Gdańsk, the Institute of Political Science at the University of Gdańsk, the Museum of Emigration in Gdynia, and the Self-Government of the Pomorskie Voivodeship.
