Carleton University’s Martin Geiger and his international project partners have been invited to this year’s Paris Peace Forum (Nov 12-13). Created by French President Emmanuel Macron, the forum features world leaders, representatives of international organizations and leading think tanks.
The forum aims to foster global co-operation in multiple policy areas, including migration. At this year’s forum, Geiger and his partners will ‘soft launch’ a new international organization to promote better governance of talent migration.
Prof. Martin Geiger
Together with representatives from the International Organization for Migration and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Geiger and his partners will introduce the new Alliance of Global Talent Organizations (AGTO). In advance of the AGTO’s official launch in early 2020, Geiger and his partners aim to secure international financial support and greater participation in the alliance.
Understanding How High-Skilled Migrant Professionals Are Recruited and Retained
“The AGTO is interested in understanding how high-skilled migrant professionals are currently recruited and retained and how these global talents can be utilized more effectively for innovation and development while mitigating negative outcomes,” said Geiger, professor of Politics of Migration and Mobility. “We are seeking to identify best practices and develop on this basis actionable policy and industry advice.”
Geiger, with his global team of student researchers, is fostering partnered research involving industry and other non-academic institutions from Canada and abroad. His current Partnership Development Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) is supporting a collaboration with the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and industry partners, including the Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia and Hire Immigrants Ottawa.
Bringing Discussions of Global Talent Mobility to the Paris Peace Forum
“The world is struggling with a shifting global order,” said Geiger. “There is no solution yet on how to share the benefits of migration equally and avoid brain drain and other negative impacts of the race for talent. There is a strong need to better promote the interests and rights of high-skilled migrant professionals during a period of growing fear of not only a trade, but also a talent war between developed and developing countries.”
Jurisdictions around the world compete for talent, including Canada. In many places, local as well as immigrant talent is underutilized, and in particular female professionals have greater difficulties accessing employment in high-tech sectors. Very often, Canada is thought of as a gold standard with a lot of experience and knowledge to share on how to attract and retain high-skilled talent. However, even in Canada, there are significant issues with underemployed skilled immigrants, persistent skills mismatches and growing skill gaps.
Geiger and his team will report live from the forum using the Twitter handle @migrateinnovate.
Friday, November 1, 2019 in Faculty of Public and Global Affairs, Political Science
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