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MiReKoc

MiReKoc

MiReKoc, full name MIGRATION RESEARCH CENTER AT KOÇ UNIVERSITY, a research center established in 2004 to develop research and support collaboration between Koç University (KU) and the Foundation for Population, Migration and Environment (PME, Zurich). The center studies migration in Turkey and its surrounding areas and is the only academic program providing financial support for migration research in Turkey.

The aims of MiReKoc include: increasing the capacity of migration research in Turkey; creating new research fields and encouraging collaboration among those working in the field; evaluating migration research carried out in Turkey together with studies being conducted on a local and global scale; developing migration research in Turkey by correlating it with the “near abroad”, which includes neighboring regions in Europe, Asia and Africa; bringing together scientists working in the migration field with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and public sector players; and promoting dialogue between research and policy-making processes.

While bearing an undoubted significance as a sender, receiver and transit country in international migration systems, Turkey has also experienced heavy internal migration, particularly from rural to urban locations. The center primarily researches poorly documented periods of the country’s migration history, as well as the study of strands and concepts of the migration phenomenon that have previously received scant attention. Facilitating the diffusion of an “original voice” for migration studies carried out in Turkey is another of the center’s priorities, alongside the development of a migration studies interdisciplinary approach that incorporates economics, sociology, anthropology, political science, international relations, history, jurisprudence, demographics, urban studies, geography, psychology and pedagogy.

In addition to funding research projects and publishing project reports, MiReKoc organizes international conferences and multi-disciplinary workshops and seminars to discuss research agendas developed in different contexts. It creates international study and training programs, where scientific information can be shared across a broader academic spectrum including NGOs and local and national government officials.

PhD students and postdoctoral researchers working on migration issues can join the MiReKoc guest researcher program. Others wishing to gain experience in research are taken on as interns in the KU office and play an active role in migration research projects.

A support project to increase research, activities and coordination at MiReKoc was initiated by the Vehbi Koç Foundation in 2016. Based in the Koç University Forced Migration Research Center (FMRC), it brings together all reliable sources relating to migration, particularly Syrian refugees, storing the information in an open access online database for all researchers and academic institutions.

Balbo, Marcello, İçduygu, Ahmet and Serrano, Julio Pérez (ed.), Countries of Migrants, Cities of Migrants, Isis Press, Istanbul, 2013
İçduygu, Ahmet (ed.), Kentler ve Göç: Türkiye, İtalya ve İspanya Örnekleri (Cities and Migration: Through the Examples of Turkey, Italy and Spain), Istanbul Bilgi University Press, Istanbul, 2012
İçduygu, Ahmet and Kirişçi, Kemal (ed.), Land of Diverse Migrations: Challenges of Emigration and Immigration in Turkey, Bilgi University Press, Istanbul, 2009
İçduygu, Ahmet and Sert, Deniz (ed.), Borders Under Stress: The Cases of Turkey-EU and Mexico-USA Borders, Isis Press, Istanbul, 2012
İçduygu, Ahmet, Yükseker, Deniz and Aksel, Damla B. (ed.), Migration around Turkey: Old Phenomena, New Research, Isis Press, Istanbul, 2013
İçduygu, Ahmet and Karaçay, Ayşem Biriz (ed.), Critical Reflections in Migration Research: Views from the South and the North, Koç University Press, Istanbul, 2015
İçduygu, Ahmet and Göker, Gülru (ed.), Rethinking Migration and Integration: Bottom-up Responses to Neoliberal Global Challenges, Isis Press, Istanbul, 2015
Karaçay, Ayşem Biriz and Üstübici, Ayşen (ed.), Migration to and from Turkey: Changing Patterns and Shifting Policies, Isis Press, Istanbul, 2014
Karaçay, Ayşem Biriz, Sert, Deniz and Göker, Zeynep Gülru (ed.), Waves of Diversity: Socio-Political Implications of International Migration in Turkey, Isis Press, Istanbul, 2014
Pitkänen, Pirkko, İçduygu, Ahmet and Sert, Deniz (ed.), Migration and Transformation, Springer, New York, 2012
Sert, Deniz and Korfalı, Deniz Karcı (ed.), Migration and Turkey: Changing Human Geography, Isis Press, Istanbul, 2014
Şimşek, Doğuş, Ulusaşırı Kimlikler ve Londra’da yaşayan Kıbrıslı Türk, Kürt ve Türk Göçmen Çocukları (Transnational Identities and Turkish, Kurdish, and Turkish Cypriot Immigrant Children Living in London), Istanbul Bilgi University Press, Istanbul, 2016
 
Some reports from MiReKoc

İçduygu, Ahmet, Turkey and International Migration. Report Prepared for the Annual Meeting of the OECD Expert Group on Migration, November 2013
İçduygu, Ahmet, Erder, Sema and Gençkaya, Ömer Faruk, Türkiye’nin Uluslararası Göç Politikaları, 1923-2023: Ulus-devlet Oluşumundan Ulus-Ötesi Dönüşümlere (Turkey's International Migration Policies, 1923-2023: From Nation-state Formation to Transnational Transformations), January 2014
Korfalı, Deniz Karcı, Üstübici, Ayşen and Clerck, Helene de, Turkey: Country and Research Areas Report, January 2014
 
Some MiReKoc conferences

Past and Present Research Methods in Turkey, January 5, 2013
The Metropolis-MiReKoc Academic Forum: Migration and Demographic Change: Causes and Consequences, March 18, 2013
The Turkish-Greek Compulsory Population Exchange in its 90th Year: New Approaches, New Findings, November 16-17, 2013
The MiReKoc 10th Year Symposium: Borders, Mobility and Diversity: Old Questions, New Challenges, November 20-21, 2014

POPULAR TITLES

Koç Family

A family of entrepreneurs and philanthropists who played a large role
Koç, Leyla S(adberk)

The first child of Ali Y. Koç  and Nevbahar Koç . 
Koç, Nevbahar

Née DEMİRAĞ, daughter of Turgut Demirağ and Afet Demirağ (later Karacan)
Kıraç, İpek

Director and businesswoman. In addition to her other roles, she is chair of the Koç School
Koç, Esra

The first child of Mustafa V. Koç  and Caroline Koç . 

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Abadan Unat, Nermin

Political scientist who received the Vehbi Koç Award for education in 2012.

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