Migration has always shaped human societies: "Today, more than one billion people rely on international and internal migration to escape poverty and conflict" (Peter Sutherland, UN). Migration is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon, closely linked to the demographic changes that are shaping societies today and exacerbated by the growing inequalities within and between societies at local and global levels. 
In collaboration with other academic centres, public and private institution and non-governmental organisations, SUPSI participates in projects related to migration and society at the local and regional levels, offering opportunities to focus applied research on the nexus between migration and development, local and transnational migration, urbanisation, social transformation and socio-economic innovation - analysing the challenges and opportunities within societies.
SUPSI is active since a decade in the sector of migration with its Centre for Documentation and Migration Research. SUPSI is a member of the Consortium for Education and Research on Sustainable Migrations of the network "Swissuniversities Development and Cooperation".