In a constantly changing world, where migration dynamics continuously reshape societies, the University of Luxembourg and the City of Dudelange are launching an ambitious initiative: the ‘History and Migrations’ Chair. Led by Professor Denis Scuto and funded by the City of Dudelange, this Chair aims to study international migrations during the 19th and 20th centuries in the Greater Region, Luxembourg, and specifically in Dudelange.
An Academic and Societal Necessity
International migrations have profoundly shaped societies and today represent a major issue for the social sciences and humanities. Studying them allows for a better understanding of the transformations affecting the contemporary world. With recognized expertise in this field, Luxembourg is committed to developing high-level research and education on migration dynamics while promoting the transmission of knowledge to a broad audience. This ambition is supported by several factors: its industrial history, tertiary activities, current European involvement, and its cross-border labor market configuration.
This is where the Chair ‘History and Migrations’ plays an essential role. Its main objective is to study migratory movements as a system linking the territories of origin, transit spaces, and destinations, in order to better understand the complexity of flows in their territorial, transnational, and socio-historical dimensions. It also aims to analyze migratory paths and the experiences of migrants, to understand the impacts of migration policies on both the people in migration and the societies of origin and destination. Finally, by generating new knowledge, the chair fosters reflection and contributes to informing the development of public policies aimed at promoting the positive effects of migrations.
Collaborative and Innovative Research
The ‘History and Migrations’ Chair goes beyond historical analysis by adopting an interdisciplinary approach, integrating sociology, political science, and economics. Research will be conducted in close collaboration with the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH) at the University of Luxembourg, the Centre for Documentation on Human Migrations (CDMH), and transnational research groups such as Border Studies, Migration and Inclusive Societies, and the European Migration Network.
The C²DH will bring its expertise in public and digital history, allowing the project to rely on the most advanced research tools and methods. Additionally, researchers will benefit from privileged access to the BAMI database, developed by the CDMH, which records the migrations of tens of thousands of people, as well as the rich archives of the CDMH and the City of Dudelange. The combination of these unique resources with cutting-edge digital tools in data analysis and visualization will open new perspectives in the study of migrations.
Teaching and Raising Awareness on Migration History
The ‘History and Migrations’ Chair, in cooperation with the CDMH, will enrich the curriculum at the University of Luxembourg by integrating its research into the Bachelor in European Cultures, the Master’s in Contemporary European History (MAHEC), and the Master’s in Public and Digital History (MADIPH). Beyond academia, interactive exhibitions, international conferences, and educational projects will take place, actively involving both students and citizens.
One of the pillars of the valorization will be the partnership with the CDMH, which has significant experience in highlighting migratory memory through exhibitions, publications, and testimonies. The partnership with the CDMH and the City of Dudelange will promote the dissemination of research results to the general public, notably through publications, a digital journal, exhibitions, and joint events. Among the flagship projects, the creation of an exhibition, initially itinerant and then permanent at the CDMH, on Luxembourg as a country of migrations will take a central place, combining archives, life stories, and immersive technologies.
The Chair of History & Migrations and the City of Dudelange
In addition to the general benefits of a Chair of Migration History for Luxembourg, it is also important to highlight the specific advantages of such a Chair for the country’s cities with a rich migratory past. The City of Dudelange, as the Chair’s first research field, is naturally part of this. The Chair will highlight the migratory dynamics that have shaped this city, a true migratory crossroads in Luxembourg. Dudelange, with its industrial past and major role in migratory waves, is today a living example of diversity. From the early 20th century, a large part of its population came from internal and international migrations, attracted by industrialization. Currently, nearly 40% of its residents are foreigners, with a significant proportion of Portuguese nationals. The Chair will study this migratory history and its current issues, notably by analyzing foreign communities through in-depth research and collaborations with the CDMH. This initiative will help to better understand the impact of migrations on the local society and to highlight this memory through exhibitions and public events.
A Long-Term Ambition
By establishing this Chair, the University of Luxembourg underscores the crucial importance of institutionalizing the study of Luxembourg’s history and migrations, particularly within the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH). The Chair will develop scientific expertise on key migration factors while critically analyzing them. By connecting past and present, it aims to actively contribute to building an informed future, creating a bridge between the two.
Organizational Aspects of the Chair
- Chairholder (2025-2029): Professor Denis Scuto
- Two postdoctoral researchers hired for four years in 2025
- One doctoral researcher recruited for four years in 2025
- FNR Core Research Project (provisional title: The Study of Migratory Dynamics and Their Societal Effects through a Prosopography of Immigrant Populations in Luxembourg and the Greater Region Using Digital Tools) to be submitted to the FNR in April 2025 by Professors Denis Scuto (University of Luxembourg) and Piero Galloro (University of Lorraine)
- Joint Erasmus+ project of the University of Luxembourg, the University of Lorraine, the University of Saarbrücken, and the CDMH (to be submitted in 2026)
- Research seminars on the history of migrations within the MAHEC (Master in Contemporary European History) and the MADIPH (Master in Digital and Public History)
- Rotation of visiting researchers around the Chair ‘History of Migrations’ hosted in Dudelange (co-financed by the City of Dudelange and C²DH)
- Monthly newsletter on migration research and inclusion in Luxembourg and the Greater Region (starting from September 2025)
- Organization of conferences
- Organization of public history activities (exhibitions, heritage tours, etc.) with the CDMH
- Funded by the City of Dudelange at 200 000€ per year
