Prof. Dr. Birte NIENABER

Associate Professor of Political Geography

• Coordinator of the European Migration Network – National Contact Point Luxembourg (LU EMN NCP)

• Course director of the trinational Master in Border Studies of the University of Luxembourg

• Coordinator of the national focal point of  FRANET

• Member of the Advisory Board on Spatial Development of the German Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction (Bundesministerium für Wohnen, Stadtentwicklung und Bauwesen) during the legislation period of the 20th German Bundestag

• Member of the monitoring committee of the European Social Funds+ (ESF+) Luxembourg

• Member of the board of directors of the IMISCOE

• Member of the steering committee of the UniGR-Centre for Border Studies

• Certified Lego Serious Play Facilitator

Research Interests

• Migration

• Border Studies

• Man-Environment-Studies

• European Spatial Planning and Development

• Rural Geography

Research projects

Research projects at the University of Luxembourg

• 2022 “SOPEMI report 2022”, funded by Office National de l’Accueil (ONA)

• 2022 -2022 “Compliance of the Luxembourg national programme of the ESF with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights”, funded by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social and Solidarity Economy of Luxembourg (MTESS)

• 2021 – 2022 “Research study regarding migration and discrimination”, funded by Centre pour l’Egalité de Traitement (CET)

• 2021 “SOPEMI report 2021”, funded by Office National de l’Accueil (ONA)

• 2021-2022 “European Migration Network” (National Contact Point Luxembourg), coordinator, funded by Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) of the European Commission and the Office National de l’Accueil (ONA)

• 2020 “SOPEMI report 2020”, funded by National Reception Office (ONA)

• 2020-2021: “Social capital in the integration of young adult migrants in Luxembourg. Theory and practice”, funded by the Ministry of Family, Integration and the Greater Region (National Action Plan on Integration)

• 2020-2023 “EMpowerment through liquid Integration of Migrant Youth in vulnerable conditions (MIMY)”, coordinator/lead partner, together with Institut für Landes- und Stadtentwicklungsforschung gGMBH – ILS, Germany; HAWK Hochschule Hildesheim/Holzminden/Goettingen, Germany; Universitetet i Bergen, Norway; Academia de studii economice din Bucuresti, Romania; Malmo Universitet, Sweden; Universit cattolica des Sacro Cuore, Italy; University of Sheffield, UK; Kozep -Europai Egyetem, Hungary; SWPS Uniwersytet Humanistycznospoleczny, Poland; EURICE European Research and Project Office GmbH, Germany; Europese Confederatie van Organisaties voor Jeugdcentra ECYC Vereniging, Belgium; London Metropolitan University, UK; HORIZON2020

• 2020 “IMISCOE 2020”; grant for an international conference organisation; FNR RESCOM scientific events

• 2019-2022 “ESPON TNO19-22”, Partner, together with Ghent University- Centre for Mobility and Spatial Planning, Belgium (Lead); University of Tartu, Estonia; Université Paris Diderot – Paris 7 -UMS RIATE, France; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy; Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR), Germany; Aalborg University, Danmark; PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Netherlands; University of Akureyri, Iceland; Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Slovenia; LGI Consulting Paris, France; ESPON

• 2019-2020 “European Migration Network – National Contact Point Luxembourg”, funded by the European Commission (AMIF) and the Ministère de la Famille, de l’Integration et de la Grande Région, Office luxembourgeois de l’accueil et de l’integration

• 2018-2022 National Focal Point FRANET, funded by European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

• 2018-2020 „ESPON Contact Point Luxembourg”, funded by Ministère du Développement Durable et des Infrastructures (MDDI)

• 2018-2022 „European Center for Border Studies“, project together with UniGR asbl, Luxembourg; Technical University Kaiserslautern, Germany; University of Lorraine, France; University of Liège, Belgium; Saarland University, Germany; University of Trier, Germany; Ministère du Développement Durable et des Infrastructures Département de l’Aménagement du Territoire (MDDI-DATer), Luxembourg; Deutsch-Französische Hochschule; Germany; Info-Institut (Interregionale Arbeitsmarktbeobachtungsstelle), Germany; Institut de la Grande Région, Belgium; EVTZ Esch-Belval, France; Maison des Sciences de l’Homme de l ‘Université de Liège, Belgium; Maison des Sciences de l’Homme de l ‘Université de Lorraine, France; Europa-Kolleg CEUS of Saarland University, Geramyn; Eurodistrict Saar-Moselle, Germany; INTERREG V A Grand Région/Großregion

• 2018 – 2019 RISE-funding for H2020-proposal, funding by the University of Luxembourg

• 2017-2019 „Evaluation of the Common European Asylum System under Pressure and Recommendations for Further Development (CEASEVAL)“, WP-LEADER of WP „Borders and the mobility of migrants“, project together with Technische Universität Chemnitz, Germany; Universiteit van Amsterdam, Netherlands; Forum Internazionale Ed Europeo di Ricerche sull’ Immigrazione Associazone, Italy; University of Sussex, UK; International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Austria; Centre for International Information and Documentation in Barcelona, Spain; TARKI, Hungary; University of Helsinki (Helsingin Yliopisto), Finland; European Council on Refugees and Exiles AISBL, Belgium; New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria; Koç University, Turkey; Elliniko Idrya Evropaikis kai Exoterikis Politikis (Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy), Greece; Stichting Vreie Universiteit, Netherlands; H2020

• 2017-2018 „Mapping mobility – pathways, institutions and structural effects of youth mobility in Europe (MOVE)“, COORDINATOR, project together with Universität Hildesheim, Germany; Deutsches Jugendinstitut e.V., Germany; Academia De Studii Economice Din Bucuresti, Romania; University of Miskolc, Hungary; Western Norway University of Applied Sciences/Høgskulen på Vestlandet, Norway; Ilustre Colegio Nacional de Doctores y Licenciados en Ciencias Politicas y Sociologia, Spain; European Research and Project Office GmbH, Germany; European Youth Information and Counselling Agency, Luxembourg; HORIZON2020

• 2017 “SOPEMI report 2017”, funded by the Ministère de la Famille, de l’Integration et de la Grande Région, Office luxembourgeois de l’accueil et de l’integration

• 2017-2018 “European Migration Network – National Contact Point Luxembourg”, funded by the European Commission and the Ministère de la Famille, de l’Integration et de la Grande Région, Office luxembourgeois de l’accueil et de l’integration

• 2016-2021 „Resituating the Local in Cohesion and Territorial Development (RELOCAL)“, WP-LEADER of WP „Regional Autonomy and Spatial Justice“, project together with University of Eastern Finland, Finland; Institut für Landes- und Stadtentwicklungsforschung gGmbH, Germany; University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Stockholm Universitet, Sweden, Nordregio, Nordic Centre for Spatial Development, Sweden; The James Hutton Institute, UK; Magyar Tudomanyos Akademia Kozgazdasag- Es Regionalis Tudomanyi Kutatokozpont, Hungary; Technische Universiteit Delft, Netherlands; MCRIT, Spain; Uniwerytet Lodzki, Poland; Fundatia Desire pentru Deschidere si Reflectie Sociala, Romania; Panepistimio Thessalias, Greece; Universidade de Lisboa – Lisbon School of Economics & Management, Portugal; HORIZON2020

• 2016 “SOPEMI report 2016”, funded by the Ministère de la Famille, de l’Integration et de la Grande Région, Office luxembourgeois de l’accueil et de l’integration

• 2015-2017 “ESPON Contact Point”, funded by the Ministère du Développement durable et des Infrastructures, Département de l’aménagement du territoire

• 2015-2016 “European Migration Network – National Contact Point Luxembourg”, funded by the European Commission and the Ministère de la Famille, de l’Integration et de la Grande Région, Office luxembourgeois de l’accueil et de l’integration

• 2015 “SOPEMI report 2015”, funded by the Ministère de la Famille, de l’Integration et de la Grande Région, Office luxembourgeois de l’accueil et de l’integration

• 2015 RISE-grant by the University of Luxembourg

• 2013-2014 “ESPONontheRoad – Bringing closer ESPON evidence for decision making”, WP-LEADER for WP “West”, project together with the BBSR (LEAD-partner), Germany; Centre for European Regional and Local Studies (EUROREG), University of Warsaw; Poland; Office for National Economic Planning (ONEP), Hungary;  Ministry of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning, Slowenien; University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy;  Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences Athens, Greece; University Paris Diderot UMS RIATE, France; University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” of Iasi, Romania; University of Alcala, Spain; Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden;Research Institute of Territorial Planning of Vilnius, Lithuania; State Regional Development Agency, Latvia; University of Tartu, Estonia; University of Eastern Finland, Finland; University of Akureyri Research Centre, Island; Free University of Brussels-IGEAT, Belgium; National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis, Ireland;  Royal Town Planning Institute, UK; ESPON

Research projects at Saarland University

• 2012-2015 „Cross border residence. Identity experiences and integration processes in the Greater Region“ (cooperation partner in the FNR-Project, Leader: Ass. Prof. Dr. Sonja Kmec, University of Luxembourg)

• 2011-2012 „Raumwirksame Aspekte der Nachhaltigkeit – Regionale Resilienz durch Sozialkapital im Zeichen von Globalisierung und Regionalisierung in Europa“ (University resources), habilitation)

• Seit 2011 „Auswirkungen grenzüberschreitender Migration an den europäischen Binnengrenzen auf die Raumentwicklung“ (University resources))

• 2011-2012 „Migration und Integration in der Kreisstadt Merzig“ (Migration and integration in the city of Merzig), funded by the city of Merzig 

• 2011-2012 „WEBATLAS“, map on migration of the Greater Region, funded by the University of Luxembourg 

• 2011 „Sozioökonomische Evaluierung des Naturschutzgroßprojektes ILL“ (Socioeconomic evaluation of the nature conservations project ILL) Dr. Stefan Maas- Büro für Ökologie und Planung (office for ecology and planning) on behalf of German Bundesamt für Naturschutz (Federal Agency for Nature conservation)

• 2010 „Leben in der Fremde – Demographischer Wandel von Migranten im ländlichen Saarland“, (Living abroad- demographic transition of migrants in rural Saarland), Promotional competition „Ideen für Generationen“ (ideas for generations), funded by the Saarland Ministry for Health and Consumer protection 

• 2009-2012 „Bevölkerungsstrukturen, Umweltverhalten und regionalökonomische Aktivitäten. Sozialwissenschaftliche Untersuchung im Biosphärenreservat Bliesgau“ (demographic structures, environmental behaviour and regional economic activities. Social scientific researcg in the biosphere reserve Bliesgau), project management, project together with Prof. Dr. Spellerberg, TU Kaiserslautern, Germany, funded by the Saarland Ministry for Environment 

• 2009-2011 „Developing Europe’s Rural Regions in the Era of Globalization: An Interpretative Model for Better Anticipating and Responding to Challenges for Regional Development in an Evolving Internationalisation (DERREG)“, WP-LEADER of WP „International mobility and migration of rural population“, project together with Aberystwyth University; UK, Leibniz-Institut für Länderkunde (Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography), Germany; Institute NeVork, Slovenia; Mendelova zemědělská a lesnická univerzita v Brně, Czech Republic; National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Nordregio, Nordic Centre for Spatial Development, Sweden; Univerza v Ljubljani, Slovenia and Wageningen Universiteit, Netherlands; 7th EU Frameworkprogram 

• 2008-2010 „Halbzeitbewertung des Planes zur Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums im Saarland 2007-2013 im Jahre 2010 einschließlich der Begleitung und laufenden Bewertung (Jahresberichte) in den Jahren 2008 bis 2010“, (Mid-term-evaluation 2010 of the plan for development the rural region in Saarland 2007-2013 incl. The yearly evaluation of the years 2008 till 2010) together with Prof. Dr. Großkopf and Prof. Dr. Doluschitz, University Hohenheim, Germany funded by the Saarland Ministry for Environment 

• 2008-2009 „Wahrnehmungsgeographische Untersuchungen zu räumlichen Europa-Vorstellungen – eine vergleichende Untersuchung am Beispiel des SaarLorLux-Raumes und Georgiens“ (Geographical research on the spatial perception of Europe – a comparative study using the exanple of SaarLorLux region and Georgia), Financed by Saarland University (“Anschubfinanzierung”) 

• 2007-2008 „Regionalwährungen in Deutschland“ (Regional currencies in Germany) (University resources)