The role of language for social inclusion in Sweden: a decentred life-course perspective

Talk by Katrin Ahlgren, Associate Professor of language education at Stockholm University, member of the MIRCo Research Center at the Autonomous University of Madrid and 2024-2025 research-fellow at the Paris IAS (Riksbankens Jubileumsfund Research Chair), as part of the 22nd IMISCOE (International Migration Integration and Social Cohesion) Annual Conference on Decentering migration studies.

Onsite and offsite event (hybrid), open to the public with registration.
Conference in English..

Presentation

The conference invites a re-evaluation of migration research, moving beyond Western-centric and immigration-focused narratives to foster a nuanced understanding of migration complexities. By encouraging epistemological dialogue and collective reflexivity, it aims to challenge existing methodologies and explore the social and political effects of shifting perspectives on migration. Particular attention will be given to the intersections of critical migration studies, diversity, and the public perceptions of these fields.

Katrin Ahlgren’s presentation (with Samaneh Khaef, Stockholm University) introduces a new research project exploring the role of language skills in the social inclusion of migrants in Sweden. Central to this is the Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) programme, which serves around 150,000 adult learners annually. Despite its scale, little is known about SFI’s long-term impact on language proficiency. The project uses a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative data with life-course perspectives to examine how language training influences migrants’ access to education and employment over time. These patterns are complemented by autobiographical narratives from a longitudinal ethnographic study, offering a nuanced, individual-centered view of how language learning shapes migrants’ lives and sense of belonging.

Organizers and partners

- Institut Convergence Migrations
- Campus Concorcet
- CNRS
- Collège de France
- École des hautes etudes en sience sociales
- École Pratique des Hautes Études
- Ined
- Inserm
- IRD

More information