Ukraine and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg – Fostering Scholarly Exchange and Growing Collaboration Ties

Dr Oksana CHAIKA participated as a speaker in the Annual Conference of the Geographical Migration Research Working Group: Borders in Migration Research – far more than territorial borders?, hosted by the University of Luxembourg on 22-23 January 2026. The conference brought together scholars from Luxembourg and across Europe to examine borders as complex social, institutional, and spatial phenomena within contemporary migration research.

At the conference, Dr CHAIKA delivered a presentation entitled «From War to Borderland: Ukrainian Experiences of Visible and Invisible Borders in Luxembourg.» Her contribution focused on the distinction between visible borders — territorial, legal, and geopolitical — and invisible borders, understood as administrative, linguistic, temporal, and institutional systems that continue to shape migrants’ everyday lives long after physical movement has taken place. The presentation addressed how such borders influence access, identity, and belonging within the Luxembourg context and beyond.

The conference facilitated rich international scholarly exchange with Luxembourg-based and international researchers, including Birte NIENABER, Jutta BISSINGER and Christian WILLE from University of Luxembourg, Andreas SPÄTH, Anna-Lisa MÜLLER (Institut für interdisziplinäre Konflikt- und Gewaltforschung (IKG), Universität Bielefeld | Ko-Projektleitung DeZIM-Verbundforschungsprojektes «Gesellschaftliche Räume der Migration»), Kholoüd AWADA (Institut für Migrationsforschung und Interkulturelle Studien, University of Osnabrück) and many others outstanding international scholars and researchers.

The diversity of disciplinary approaches and institutional affiliations contributed to a deeply enriching discussion on borders as dynamic systems rather than fixed territorial lines.

Participation in this international conference strengthened academic collaboration involving NUBIP Ukraine, highlighting the value of cross-border scholarly exchange in advancing research on migration, identity, and the institutional mechanisms shaping access and social participation in contemporary societies.

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