In this focus, research and practice projects are realised that deal with demographic change processes in rural areas (shrinking, ageing, gender asymmetries) as well as internal and transnational migration processes (urban-rural migration, labour migration and forced migration from Eastern Europe, the Orient or Africa), their complex interrelationships, social challenges and consequences.
This includes, among other things, unequal migration of women and men from rural regions to the metropolises (such as Leipzig, Dresden, Berlin), the consequences for further population development or the so-called "securing of skilled labour"(Fachkräftesicherung) in peripheral areas such as Upper Lusatia (Oberlausitz). Immigration from border regions of Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic) or the chances of remaining and successfully integrating refugee migrants from the Middle East are also discussed - again in the context of the challenges facing the labour-society and the welfare state in the coming decades (including industrial jobs, trades or care work).
Important exchange and cooperation partners in the research-oriented field of work are:
IZS Görlitz, IÖR Dresden, IfL Leipzig, Thünen-Institut für Regionalentwicklung Bollewick, KIB e.V. Görlitz, Robert-Bosch-Stiftung
Important exchange and cooperation partners in the research and practice-oriented field are:
Federal Ministries (BMI, BMBF, BMVBS), Saxon State Government (Staatskanzlei, SMI, SMS), districts and cities of the region (Görlitz, Zittau usw.) as well as associations and networks of the region.