Call for IASS representative for the OSCE E-MINDFUL research project
In light of its high scholarly profile, the IASS has been chosen as a partner in a project run by a prestigious international organization that appreciates our pool of expertise. The Association is therefore calling for applications from semiotics research centres to be participants in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) project E-MINDFUL: Enhancing Migration Narrative to Develop Further Union’s Long-term actions.
The context
The political discourse about migration has changed significantly in the past few years. The European
Agenda on Migration underlines how “Misguided and stereotyped narratives tend to […] overlook the inherent complexity of this phenomenon, which impacts society in many different ways” (European Agenda on Migration, 2015). Already before the so-called “migration crisis” in 2016, the representation of migration as a threat to security had increasingly monopolized the public debate at global level. The consequences are borne particularly at the level of policymaking: the growing negative attitude towards migrants has made migration management approaches that could better harness the positive contribution of migrants more difficult to implement. The socioeconomic inclusion of migrants is being challenged by increasingly hostile attitudes. Contextually, legal migration channels have progressively shrunk, with evident repercussions on economies of both countries of origin, due to decreased remittances, and countries of destination, particularly South/Central Europe and the Balkans, where there have been labour shortages, a growth of the informal economy, migrants’ exploitation and distorted public debate on the matter.
The project
Aware of the divisive potential of an unbalanced public discourse on migration, the E-MINDFUL project offers the opportunity to leverage the role and respective mandates of the OSCE, a regional security organization with a multi-dimensional mandate on migration, and the ILO, a specialized UN agency, custodian of the key international conventions on labour migration, in the framework of the EU Agenda on Migration.
The successful candidate would join The Multidisciplinary Working Group of the OSCE, a body primarily focused on the stock-taking/prototyping exercise of the project, thereafter supporting the creative process of National Multidisciplinary Creative Groups by illustrating the lessons learned from the stocktaking exercise and offering guidance when needed
The aim
The aim of the project is to provide the OSCE with a solid action-oriented knowledge-base and guidelines as well as relevant, innovative instruments that can orient future communications’ efforts on the matter. Through this participatory process lessons learned from selected awareness-raising endeavours will inform the development of new approaches and innovative communication models and edutainment formats.
Outcomes
The project will set the basis for an inclusive methodology and co-creation processes able to expand the outreach of audiences and the effectiveness of the messages. This overall process of stocktaking and prototyping will be capitalized in the possible piloting of web series and in a toolkit comprising a publication and a set of distilled key findings and guidelines, which will provide a relevant compass and crucial instruments to steer and assess future communication strategies on migration and migrants.
Selection process
Candidates will be selected according to their CV and relevant experiences. Preference will be given to practitioners combining a solid academic background with extensive multinational and cross-cutting experiences. In particular the following criteria are essential:
- demonstrable background in semiotics’
- strong methodological skills;
- excellent capacity to speak and write in English;
- ability to synthesise;
- openness to collaborate with experts from other areas of expertise;
- interest in migration-related matters, including communicating migration;
- experience in contributing to social innovation programs/projects;
- solid team work experience;
- documented experience in educational, communication, action-research, design thinking, impact production, management, and preferably a combination of such experiences;
- a member of the IASS.
Broad experience, rather than excessive specialization, is sought.
Desirable attributes:
- candidate is a member of an established semiotic research centre or recognized research group
- that semiotics research centre is located in Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia or Serbia.
- The candidate has previous experience with the OSCE, ILO and other international organizations
Exclusion
Applications from scholars in any of the 57 OSCE participating States can be considered, although those from the Euro-Atlantic space (US, Canada, EU, Western Balkans) are particularly welcomed by the OSCE.
A participant from Italy is already in place in the Multidisciplinary Working Group, appointed by the OSCE, so applicants from Italy are excluded from the current call.
Remuneration
The successful applicant will be remunerated by the OSCE according to current European project standards for what is calculated to amount to 90 working days.
How to apply
Applicants should apply in writing, in English throughout, accompanied by a full CV, making a case in reference to the essential and desirable criteria, above, as well as the outline of the project.
Applications should be sent, by email, to Karin Boklund-Lagopoulou boklund@enl.auth.gr and must arrive no later than 12pm C.E.T. on 20 July 2020.
