The Migration Research Institute (MRI) was established in September 2015 by Mathias Corvinus Collegium in cooperation with Századvég Foundation. The founders meant it to be a gap-filler professional workshop that helps in interpreting contemporary global migration, in particular its tendencies in Europe. By reason of the interdisciplinary nature of migration, efforts have been made from the beginning to have MRI cover the widest possible range of the scientific spectrum. Accordingly, colleagues at the Institution include not only africologists and turkologists but experts in international law, researchers engaged in security policy, political scientists and economists. Many of our colleagues are teaching at the most prestigious Hungarian Universities (Corvinus University of Budapest, Eötvös Loránd University, National University of Public Service, Pázmány Péter Catholic University).
The goal of the Migration Research Institute is to carry out academic and professional research and analysis in Hungarian and English and to make it accessible to those who are interested in the topic. Therefore, the researchers regularly present their own research findings and expert analysis of the current developments in migration in the most important Hungarian media outlets. MRI is also an active player in the Hungarian academic arena and in the past years, one of its priorities has been to become visible also in the international research community. To this end, among others, a two-day MRI conference was organised in December 2019 in Budapest where renowned Hungarian and foreign experts examined the correlation between terrorism and migration from multiple aspects. Since its establishment, the Institute has participated in numerous Hungarian and international conferences, workshops and other professional events.
The Institute attaches special importance to gathering information about the current migration processes out in the field. This not only improves the soundness of analyses but also offers an opportunity for broadening professional cooperation. In recent years, MRI researchers went on study trips to Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Morocco, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.
The Head of the Institute is Director Tamás Dezső.