Active dialogue and inclusive engagement are integral to our approach. Our work stretches across the boundaries of discipline, sector and politics to unlock new options for the future.
Our programme for 2021-23 is developed in consultation with key stakeholders and draws on the insight of people with deep expertise on migration policy.
Migration Policy Scotland develops new projects in line with its programme priorities. Our current priorities are:
We seek to work with diverse partners across Scotland. If you have a project that would benefit from collaboration with us, please get in touch.
MPS survey exploring attitudes and experiences of migration across Scotland is a central feature in our aim to provide insight infrastructure which can support wider work (our own and that of others) on migration in Scotland. More detailed understanding of what people across Scotland think and how views and experiences differ between social groups and in different parts of Scotland will help inform policy choices and debates.
In Jan 2023 we commissioned the first representative survey of attitudes to immigration in the country for nearly a decade. Read the report of our findings here.
We are currently working towards a second round of the survey in early 2024
Increased understanding of migrant experiences and support for new, imaginative and effective ways to confront challenges and inequalities are central to MPS work.
This two-year project (2023 – 2025) aims to enhance strategic policy thinking on effective interventions to reduce financial disadvantage for low-to-middle income migrant households. It will:
The project is designed and delivered in partnership with:
The project is funded by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust
Migration Policy Scotland is developing work to support wider and more nuanced understanding of the relationship between migration and broader population concerns with particular focus on rural Scotland. We are interested in exploring ways to attract and retain rural populations and in linking policy issues and conversations to better understandings of diversity and inclusion in rural contexts.
We are currently working on a project exploring the role of migration in multi-level responses to rural depopulation with the support of an Insight Award from the Scottish Council on Global Affairs. An online roundtable event on 1st September 2023 shared findings from the project and host a panel of international experts to discuss the benefits and challenges of multi-level initiatives and appropriate mechanisms for planning, implementing and evaluating policy interventions.
We are continuing to build partnerships and seeking further funding for this work.
Past work:
Watch the recording of our online roundtable event on multi-level policy responses to rural depopulation.
Read a blog about the project and the roundtable event by MPS research assistant Hana Davis here.
Listen to MPS Senior Researcher Rebecca Kay discuss migration’s role in facing Scotland’s population challenges on Good Morning Scotland, 1 September 2022.
You can also read her blog on an MPS event in 2022: Rural Lives: Retaining diverse populations here (includes event recording and materials).
Migration Policy Scotland is developing new ways of incorporating lived experience into migration policy work. Our Migrant Lived Experience Panel Development Group is finding ways to link what happens to migrants in Scotland to our research and influencing work.
Migration Policy Scotland is excited to be working with 10 migrants who work on migration issues across Scotland. Together we are co-developing MPS’ Migrant Lived Experience Panel. With the help of Talat Yacoob as facilitator, we are taking time to think, learn and explore how policy work on migration can incorporate insights from Lived Experience.
The work of this group builds on the learning in an MPS Discovey Session on Lived Experience in April 2022 that brought together people from other policy areas such as disability rights and anti-poverty with the migration sector to share insights and learning on the contribution Lived Experience can make to our efforts to secure change.
Migration Policy Scotland offers paid internships to people from BAME backgrounds as part of our commitment to racial justice. We aim to promote diversity in policymaking by giving those from BAME backgrounds accessible opportunities to begin and further careers in policy research and policy influencing.
Our “Diversity in Policymaking” Internship programme gives paid interns the chance to support the work of a specialist policy research and influencing organisation. Alongside our experienced staff, interns are supported to deliver on a range of tasks including: background research, events organising and report writing.
We support learning and development throughout our internships through structured learning inputs and agreed development aims.
Following on from the internship period at Migration Policy Scotland, interns can take up 2 follow-on mentoring sessions. The mentoring sessions are with MPS Director, Sarah Kyambi, and aim to nuture potential and progression while provide sounding board for people from BAME backgrounds to discuss issues that can arise in the workplace. By talking through stumbling blocks and we develop strategies to support successful outcomes.
Sign up to receive alerts on MPS internship opportunities.
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In her own words: MPS first ‘Diversity in Policymaking’ intern, Hana, wrote this on her experience:
Reflecting on my internship at MPS has made me realise the number of opportunities I was afforded for personal and professional growth. The work was by no means just administrative, and I felt intellectually challenged by the different tasks I was set. In the two months that I was with MPS, I drafted a publication on specific migrant populations in Scotland, assisted with the preparation of three government-funded events, and developed MPS’ online brand and email system. I also had the chance to work in-person with the MPS team to deliver a panel event at the COSLA Conference Centre.
Being part of a small but rapidly growing organisation like MPS gave me plenty of opportunities for both collaborative and independent working and I was able to obtain valuable feedback on the work I carried out.
During the internship:
Without doubt, the highlight of this internship was the chance to work alongside Sarah and Becka. MPS is an organisation that ‘helps people think together and work together’ and this is reflected in the internal working environment they have created. From the very first day, I was welcomed into the team, and I felt valued and supported throughout the internship. I have immensely enjoyed my time at MPS and will take with me the skills and knowledge I have gained.
I would recommend anyone looking for an internship in migration/policy that is both challenging and rewarding to apply.
Listen to Hana talk about her experience at MPS
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Migration Policy Scotland offers internships on a rolling basis recruiting at different points in the year in relation to specific projects and outputs that involve work suitable for internships. Our paid internship opportunities are advertised and prospective interns are recruited through a structured application and interview process. We do our best to provide flexible internships (including part time) to broaden access.
Sign up to receive alerts on MPS internship opportunities
A key focus for Migration Policy Scotland is understanding the impacts of the new immigration system on the Scottish economy. What are the impacts on business in Scotland. What are the options for mitigating negative effects.
Kicking off with a successful event that brought together representatives from business and with experts on labour markets and migration policy in June 2022, we are now seeking funding for further work.
Migration Policy Scotland is monitoring the UK’s new immigration system. Our analysis, commentary and events contribute to understanding how the system is working. Our work on the UK labour migration system and its impacts in Scotland brings together business representatives with government at local, Scottish and UK levels.
Rebecca Kay talks to John Edward on research on migration and depopulation conducted for the Scottish Council on Global Affairs. On spotify here
This research was the focus of an MPS project and event – more information.
MPS research surveying attitudes to migration in Scotland was covered across many media outlets in September 2023.
You can access the report here.
September 14, 2023
The latest news from home and abroad, along with sport, travel and weather updates.
The Times – [Opinion by MPS Director Sarah Kyambi]
A welcome change in immigration attitudes
September 14, 2023
The Migration Policy Scotland Attitudes survey asked 1,162 adults across Scotland their views on immigration. This is the first representative survey of attitudes to immigration in the country for nearly a decade. The findings are startling: with the largest group (38 per cent) in favour of increasing migration and only 28 per cent calling for a reduction. This reverses 2014 figures where 58 per cent wanted to see immigration to Scotland reduced. There is much to tease out within the new data to understand more fully what people think, let alone why they think it, and a need for longer-term tracking of Scottish public opinion on this topic.
The Herald
Poll: Two-fifths of Scots want to see an increase in immigration
September 14, 2023
Scots are “broadly comfortable” with migration and almost three-fifths believe it has a positive impact on the country, a survey has found. The poll, which is the first study of attitudes to immigration in Scotland since 2014, also found a minority view the issue in a “more negative way”. The research for Migration Policy Scotland, conducted by Diffley Partnership, found while 59% describe immigration as positive, 18% feel it has had a negative effect, while 23% are unsure.
STV News
Almost two-fifths Scots want to see immigration increased, poll finds
September 14, 2023
Scots are “broadly comfortable” with migration and almost three-fifths believe it has a positive impact on the country, a survey has found. The poll, which is the first study of attitudes to immigration in Scotland since 2014, also found a minority view the issue in a “more negative way”. The research for Migration Policy Scotland, conducted by Diffley Partnership, found while 59% describe immigration as positive, 18% feel it has had a negative effect, while 23% are unsure.
The Times
Scots are changing their views on immigration
September 14, 2023
Scots have changed their views on immigration with opposition to newcomers falling by almost 50 per cent in a decade, a survey shows. According to the report published today by Migration Policy Scotland only 28 per cent of respondents wanted lower immigration levels compared with 58 per cent in 2014.
The National
Majority of Scots view immigration as positive, poll finds
September 14, 2023
SCOTTISH people are “broadly comfortable” with migration and almost three-fifths believe it has a positive impact on the country, a survey has found. The poll, which is the first study of attitudes to immigration in Scotland since 2014, also found a minority view the issue in a “more negative way”. The research for Migration Policy Scotland, conducted by Diffley Partnership, found while 59% describe immigration as positive, 18% feel it has had a negative effect, while 23% are unsure.
Glasgow Times
Two-fifths of Scots want to see an increase in immigration
September 14, 2023
The poll, which is the first study of attitudes to immigration in Scotland since 2014, also found a minority view the issue in a “more negative way”. The research for Migration Policy Scotland, conducted by Diffley Partnership, found while 59% describe immigration as positive, 18% feel it has had a negative effect, while 23% are unsure.
Holyrood
Government makes fresh call for immigration controls as census confirms ageing population
September 14, 2023
It comes after a report from Migration Policy Scotland, which was carried out by Diffley Partnership at the beginning of this year, showed that Scottish attitudes to migration are changing, with 28 per cent of respondents saying they want lower immigration levels compared with 58 per cent in 2014.
MPS Director Sarah Kyambi speaks at this symposium event to accompany Museum of Edinburgh exhibition ‘Local Foreigners: the human face of immigration’.
Watch the recorded symposium event here
MPS Director contributes to this feature in the Scotsman on Sunday by Jane Bradley: “Immigration policy: How does Scotland and the UK compare to the rest of the world?”
MPS Director provides commentary on migration in Scotland in this BBC Documentary.
Presenter: Martin Geissler; Producer: Ross Harper
MPS Senior Researcher Rebecca Kay discusses migration’s role in mitigating population challenges on Good Morning Scotland
Listen to MPS Director, Sarah Kyambi, and Professor David Bell discuss the challenges migration raises for Scotland after Brext and Covid. Hosted by Nicola McEwen, this episode of Consitutionally Sound covers labour market and constitutional issues.
In this Common Weal Policy Podcast episode, Craig Dalzell talks to Dr Sarah Kyambi, Director and Founder of MPS. They discuss the policy gaps in Scotland around migration, particularly outwith the areas of asylum and refugee migration, what Scotland is currently doing to close those gaps and where Scotland could be doing more.
In this podcast from the Wales Center for Public Policy MPS Director, Sarah Kyambi, joins Prof Jonathan Portes, (King’s College London) and Llyr ap Garent, (Federation forSmall Businesses) in a discussion the likely impacts of post-Brexit migration policies and the options facing the Welsh government.
This online round table event discussed the role of migration in tackling rural depopulation and the benefits and challenges of initiatives involving multi-level stakeholders.
This event on Hong Kongers in Scotland brought together policy makers, practitioners and community organisations to share their knowledge and reflect on what can be done to shape the trajectories of a new migrant group that looks set to grow.
This online panel discussion, brought together organisations offering advice on the Windrush Schemes in Scotland and working on mitigating their shortcomings across the UK.
In this online workshop, Migration Policy Scotland brought together a panel of experts to discuss the policy-related issues surrounding migration into rural parts of Scotland.
This Migration Policy Scotland event hosted two expert panel discussions on the experiences and support needs of EU nationals in Scotland.
Alongside Sabir Zazai, Scottish Refugee Council and Dan Fisher, Geographer, MPS Director, Sarah Kyambi, took part in this panel at the Scottish Parliaments Festival of Politics
This Migration Policy Scotland event brought together expertise on migration and on the Scottish economy and business to assess the impacts of UK’s new immigration system in Scotland. How have businesses and the economy been impacted by the UK’s new immigration system? How have they responded? What are the benefits and challenges of the new system and how could any negative impacts be mitigated?
We started our journey here, building connections and sharing insights to incorporate migrant lived experiences across Migration Policy Scotland’s work.
At an RSA Fellows’ MCICH Network Fellow-led event MPS Director, Dr Sarah Kyambi, joins Prof. David Bell, University of Stirling, and Prof. Oscar Guadiola-Rivera, University of London, in a discussion with Dr Parag Khanna’s of his newly published: “Move” that considers the impact of migration on the future of human civilization.
We organised a closed event for Local Authorities on 5 November 2021
Read a blog by a participant from the event here
Our launch event on 29 October 2021, marked the start of our work as a new think tank, Migration Policy Scotland, promoting a constructive approach to migration in Scotland.
In 2019 the Migration Policy Scotland Project investigated the need for more policy capacity on migration in Scotland (outside of asylum and refugee migration). This scoping exercise was conducted as a series of conversations that explored:
We spoke with over 50 people working with migrants or on migration issues across Scotland. This including workshops in Aberdeen and Glasgow. The resulting report was discussed at an online event in July 2020. On the basis of this consultation, we took the decision to found a think tank. Migration Policy Scoltand was set up. Our purpose is to promote a constructive approach to migration.
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