The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Working Conditions, Employment, Career Development and Well-Being of Refugee Researchers

Ourania Tzoraki, Svetlana Dimitrova, Marin Barzakov, Saad Yaseen, Vasilis Gavalas, Hani Harb, Abas Haidari, Brian P. Cahill, Alexandra Ćulibrk, Ekaterini Nikolarea, Eleni Andrianopulu and Miroslav Trajanovic
Additional contact information
Ourania Tzoraki: Marine Sciences Department, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
Svetlana Dimitrova: EURAXESS BHO, Sofia University, Dragan Tzankov, str. 1164, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
Marin Barzakov: EURAXESS BHO, Sofia University, Dragan Tzankov, str. 1164, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
Saad Yaseen: Institut für Informationsmanagement und Unternehmensführung, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Konrad-Adenauer 13, 49808 Lingen, Germany
Vasilis Gavalas: Department of Geography, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
Hani Harb: German-Syrian Research Society, 60314 Frankfurt, Germany
Abas Haidari: Marine Sciences Department, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
Brian P. Cahill: Learning and Skills Analytics Group, Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology (TIB), 30167 Hannover, Germany
Alexandra Ćulibrk: Marine Sciences Department, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
Ekaterini Nikolarea: School of Social Sciences, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
Eleni Andrianopulu: International Office, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
Miroslav Trajanovic: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nis, Aleksandra Medvedova 14, 18000 Nis, Serbia

Societies, 2021, vol. 11, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: The ongoing ‘refugee crisis’ of the past years has led to the migration of refugee researchers (RRs) to European countries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RRs often had to work from home and/or to continue their social, cultural and economic integration process under new conditions. An online survey carried out to explore the impact of the pandemic on the refugee researchers showed that RRs found it difficult to adapt their everyday working life to the ‘home’ setting. The majority have had neither a suitable work environment at home nor the appropriate technology. Although they stated that they are rather pleased with the measures taken by the public authorities, they expressed concern about their vulnerability due to their precarious contracts and the bureaucratic asylum procedures, as the pandemic has had a negative impact on these major issues. The majority of RRs working in academia seem not to have been affected at all as far as their income is concerned, while the majority of those employed in other sectors became unemployed during the pandemic (58%). Recommendations are provided to the public authorities and policy makers to assist RRs to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic on their life.

Keywords: COVID-19; refugee researchers (RRs); researcher at risk; scholars at risk; employment; pandemic; working from home; asylum procedure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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