ULB findings presented in roundtable discussion

On 16 October 2025, the AspirE team based at the Université libre de Bruxelles organised a roundtable discussion to present and discuss their local-level research findings with representatives from embassies, consulates, the European Union mission, and associative milieus. The event provided a platform for direct dialogue between researchers and stakeholders actively engaged in migration governance, advocacy, and support services.

During the discussion, the AspirE researchers shared insights drawn from in-depth interviews and video diaries with migrants living in Belgium, highlighting the diverse trajectories, aspirations, and everyday realities that shape migration experiences between Asia and Europe. Participants were invited to reflect on these findings and to relate them to their own institutional or organisational perspectives, which generated a lively exchange on themes such as labour mobility, family reunification, transnational networks, and integration pathways.

Beyond the academic sphere, the roundtable underscored the policy relevance of AspirE’s human-centred approach. By foregrounding migrants’ voices and agency, the project’s findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of mobility that challenges stereotypical or instrumental framings often found in policy discourse.

The event thus served as an important step in bridging research and policymaking, reinforcing AspirE’s commitment to ensuring that evidence-based, grounded knowledge informs both national and European-level discussions on migration and social inclusion.