Waseda Institute of Asian Migrations is part of the transnational research consortium investigating “Decision making of aspiring (re)migrants to and within the EU: the case of labor market-leading migrations from Asia (AspirE)”.  The project examines the decision-making process of aspiring (re)migrants from selected Southeast and East Asian countries (China (Hong Kong), Japan, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) to and within selected EU member countries (Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy and Portugal). The three-year project commenced in January 2023. The leader of AspirE is Dr Asuncion Fresnoza-Flot of the Université libre de Bruxelles.

Employing qualitative and participatory research methodologies, the study will map the extent to which spatial mobility policies at the EU and national levels consider aspiring (re)migrants’ behavior, identify the micro- and meso-level drivers of (re)migration aspiration and/or intention, and determine the temporality of aspiring (re)migrants’ decision-making. The results of this project are expected to provide insights on how individuals’ migration decisions are formed and change over time and on the specific stage at which mobility policies are more likely to play a role in shaping migration outcomes. The identification of these critical junctures will hopefully enhance EU migration policies.

The Waseda University team investigates the migration of Japan nationals to European countries. Here is the link to AspirE project website.

Waseda team:
Gracia Liu-Farrer
Miyako Hayakawa