The Immigration Observatory
With the Immigration Observatory, ACIDI, I.P. – the High Commission for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue, seeks to deepen knowledge on the reality of immigration in Portugal, in order to be able to define, implement and evaluate effective policies for the integration of immigrants.
THE IMMIGRATION OBSERVATORY
The Immigration Observatory, an entity formally set up within the remit of ACIDI, I.P., has the following objectives:
a) To gather, process and make available timely information on the issue of immigration in our country and its horizontal aspects at a global level.
b) To encourage the collection of supplementary data or information not directly accessible from primary sources.
c) To build up files, studies and research, in collaboration with expert scientific and academic institutions in the subject area, which appear relevant for the design, orientation and improvement of public policies on immigration.
d) To publish and distribute publications resulting from its activities, or from other sources of interest, to improve the span of knowledge on immigration.
e) To promote seminars, colloquia, debates and other activities targeting better understanding of the phenomena associated with population movements destined for Portugal, and with the training of actors to deal with the issues involved as a further aim.
f) Guarantee the connection between ACIDI, I.P. and similar national or foreign institutions, namely structures for observation, data collection, research and systematic analysis of movements of peoples in Portugal, Europe and the rest of the world.
The Observatory does not have its own structure and does not possess a staff of permanent employees. It is led by a coordinator who is responsible for the respective academic activity, on which he reports back to the High Commission in relation to meeting the objectives for which it was set up. The budget for the Observatory is part of ACIDI, I.P.’s budget.
The philosophy behind the Observatory’s work is one of subsidiarity relative to the group of institutions and researchers systematically dedicated to studying the topic of immigration. In this regard, the Immigration Observatory aims to intervene essentially as a catalyst for activities and a promoter of academic, scientific and institutional cooperation networks, but only when this is of benefit for a better public understanding of the subjects and topics that are its main concern.
THE IMMIGRATION OBSERVATORY'S NETWORK
The Immigration Observatory is structured around a network constituted by the following organisations:
Prof. Roberto Carneiro, Coordinator of the Immigration Observatory
Catarina Reis Oliveira, Head of Unit of Research and International Relations - ACIDI, IP.
Research Centres with Protocols:
CEAS – Centre for Social Anthropology Studies
Higher Institute for Employment and Corporate Sciences (ISCTE)
OI Partner: Prof. Paulo Raposo
CEG - Centre for Geographical Studies
Faculty of Letters of the University of Lisbon
OI Partner: Prof. Maria Lucinda Fonseca
CEMME - Centre for Migration and Ethnic Minorities Studies
Faculty of Social and Human Sciences – New University of Lisbon
OI Partner: Prof. Susana Pereira Bastos
CEMRI - Centre for Migration and Intercultural Relations Studies
Open University
OI Partner: Prof. Manuela Malheiro Ferreira
CES - Centre for Social Studies
Faculty of Economy of the University of Coimbra
OI Partner: Dr. José Carlos Marques
CIES - Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology
Higher Institute for Employment and Corporate Sciences (ISCTE)
OI Partner: Prof. Fernando LuÃs Machado
ICS – Institute for Social Sciences
University of Lisbon
OI Partner: Prof. Jorge Vala
SOCIUS - Research Centre in Economic Sociology and the Sociology of Organisations
Higher Institute for Economy and Management – Technical University of Lisbon
OI Partner: Prof. João Peixoto
