Neuchâtel Graduate Conference 2022 | FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is in the organizing committee of the conference?
The members of the organizing committee are Robin Stünzi (Education, Careers and Equal Opportunities Officer of the nccr – on the move), Livia Tomas, Leslie Ader (University of Neuchâtel), Mia Gandenberger, Ihssane Otmani (University of Lausanne), and Aurélie Pont (University of Geneva)

Where and when does the conference take place?
Avenue du 1er-Mars 26, University of Neuchâtel, on 7 and 8 July 2022.

What are the criteria for the selection of the contributions?
We used six criteria for the selection, namely: (1) relevance to the research on migration and mobility; (2) clarity of exposition; (3) soundness of the research design; (4) fit with the overall topic of the conference; (5) thematic fit with other paper proposals; (6) variety of the disciplines and the methods represented at the conference.

How many contributions did you accept?
We accepted 48 proposals.

I did not see the call for applications on time and I did not send a submission: can I still participate in the conference?
Since we received an extraordinarily large number of applications, we can only accept external participants if they explain clearly the reasons why they are interested in attending our conference. If you have a special motivation to attend, please write to robin.stunzi@nccr-onthemove.ch, who will discuss your request with the other members of the organising committee.

I need an additional document (e.g. a formal invitation letter) to apply for my visa.
Please contact our administrative assistant Gina Fiore at gina.fiore@nccr-onthemove.ch.

How many sessions are there at the conference?
The conference includes 4 sessions in the 6 working groups, one Public Lecture by Adrian Favell (University of Leeds), one speed dating session with professionals working on migration, and one panel on ethics in migration research.

What are the topics of the working groups?
Falling under the same overarching theme of “Tensions in Migration and Mobility”, the working groups are divided into the following topics: 1) Policy and Governance Tensions in the Fields of Migration and Mobility; 2) Understanding Citizenship under Tension; 3) Tensions Developed in a Transnational Social World 4) Between Access and Exclusion: Tensions in Attitudes and Preferences in the Attribution of Rights to Migrants 5) Tensions in Refugees’ and Migrants’ Integration 6) Current and Future Tensions in the Field of Migration and Mobility

Who are the persons responsible for each group?
One person of the organizing committee will be responsible for each working group and will be your main interlocutor for organizational aspects. Here are the names and email addresses of the person responsible for each working group:
– WG #1 Policy and Governance: Leslie Ader (University of Neuchâtel), leslie.ader@unine.ch
– WG #2 Citizenship: Aurélie Pont (University of Geneva), aurelie.pont@unige.ch
– WG #3 Transnationalism: Livia Tomás, (University of Neuchâtel), livia.tomas@unine.ch
– WG #4 Attitudes: Mia Gandenberger (University of Lausanne): miakatharina.gandenberger@unil.ch
– WG #5 Integration: Ihssane Otmani (University of Lausanne): ihssane.otmani@unil.ch
– WG #6 Current and Future tensions: Robin Stünzi (University of Neuchâtel), robin.stunzi@nccr-onthemove.ch

How are the sessions in the working groups structured?
There will be 4 sessions of 1h30 for each working group. Each session will include two 45 minutes papers presentations, divided as follows: presentation (15 minutes), discussants’ feedback (5-10 minutes), Q&A with all participants (20-25 minutes).

How is the panel on ethics structured?
In the first 45 to 60 minutes, there will be a moderated discussion on research ethics between experts. The moderator will lead the discussion based on pre-defined topics. During the remaining 30 to 45 minutes, we open the discussion to the audience of the panel.

When and how do I have to submit my paper?
We are expecting your paper by 20 June for those who want to be selected for the best paper award and 1 July for those who do not wish to be eligible. Please send your paper to the person responsible of your group who will then share your article with the other participants. There is no specific guidelines regarding the format of the paper but it should not exceed 8000 words (excluding bibliography and annexes).

What is the best paper award?
This is a 500 CHF prize for the best paper, awarded by a committee of experts composed of the Education Officer of the nccr – on the move, the Scientific Officer of the nccr – on the move, and two professors of the network. Only non-NCCR members are eligible for the prize. Papers have to be sent to the person responsible for the respective working group by 20 June at midnight, central European time.

The criteria for the decision are the following:
(1) does the paper engage with an original research question? (2) does the paper convincingly show the relevance of the research question? (3) does the paper clearly outline the key results of the research? (4) does the paper rely on well-grounded research design? (5) does the paper use original data?

The winner of the Best Paper Award is invited to publish her/his work in our Working Papers Series. The prize money will paid directly on a bank account provided by the winner.

How does the reimbursement procedure work?
Participants make their own travel/accommodation arrangements. We then proceed with the reimbursement right after the conference upon presentation of the original receipts (for convenience, it is possible to leave these at the registration desk). Please read the reimbursement instructions and use the reimbursement form (needed for your personal and bank details). For those who have qualified for funding (400 CHF), please note that you will receive an amount equal to your actual expenses based on receipts and up to 400 CHF. If your expenses are lower than 400 CHF, you will receive the lower amount. Contact persons for reimbursements: gina.fiore@nccr-onthemove.ch
When you organize your travel, keep these guidelines in mind:
– Air travel: try to find the best ratio price/performance, Economy Class
– Public transportation: priority is given to this form of transportation, 2nd Class
– Reasonably-priced cancellation insurance (air and train travel) can also be covered
– Private vehicle: must be motivated (substantially timesaving, bad connections with public transportation etc.). This is reimbursed at CHF 0.50/km
– Accommodation: 3-star hotels or less, AirBnB, or B&B: https://www.j3l.ch/en/Z10779/neuchatel-tourist-card#accommodation
– depending on your accommodation you may benefit from the Neuchâtel Tourist Card (https://www.j3l.ch/en/Z10779/neuchatel-tourist-card) giving you access to local public transportation
– Important remark on reimbursements: Please note that no one will be available to process your reimbursement requests from 9 to 18 July. It would help if you could bring all your original receipts, with the completed “Note de frais” form to the registration desk. If you do not receive your reimbursement by early August, please contact gina.fiore@nccr-onthemove.ch. Do not forget to keep copies of your receipts.

Practical information?
Here is our Practical Information document. Do not hesitate to contact gina.fiore@nccr-onthemove.ch should something not be clear. If needed, this document will be updated regularly

Can I get an attendance certificate?
Yes, please e-mail your request to gina.fiore@nccr-onthemove.ch.

What is the Twitter hashtag of the conference?
The Twitter hashtag is #neuchgradconf22.

If your question has not been answered here, please contact Robin Stünzi, the Education, Careers and Equal Opportunities Officer of the nccr – on the move or the administrative assistant Gina Fiore gina.fiore@nccr-onthemove.ch