(Im)migration in the north is not a new phenomenon, but indeed an unexplored area of research and development. The Arctic region is facing new problems and challenges along the side of the already existing ones of Arctic migration. Asylum flows, refugees are a growing group of inhabitants in the Arctic. Cultural differences, acceptance of foreign citizens in the local communities, integration into local communities and labour market are some of the issues, which need cross border cooperation in order to contribute to innovative solutions. Our network (UARCTIC) wants to address these issues and carry out pioneering work in the field of Arctic migration. This will be the first ever conference on (im)migration in the cap of the north that is a part of series of activities of UArctic Thematic network on Arctic Migration. All international Arctic and non-Arctic actors, researchers and policymakers are invited to attend the conferences.
Objectives: The Arctic integration model is an effective model across the world and the Nordic countries share and follow a comprehensive integration path which is based on welfare schemes. However, there are some disparities between policies and implementation of those policies in practice regarding immigrants or refugees. Socio-economic integration is a complex phenomenon. Subjective happiness of immigrants’ and the degrees of being satisfied differ from immigrant to immigrant — individual to individual— cities to cities. The project will investigate whether there are regional differences in happiness among immigrants in Nordic countries that will support or strengthen the Nordic synergies and identity. The project will identify the degrees of satisfaction of immigrants and whether the impact of effective integration is similar across the Nordic cities. How the happiness of immigrants is distributed among the Nordic cities, whether the quality of life is similar within the Nordic countries. How we can build integrated societies, what could be the model, tools and measure for an inclusive society and for being resilient.