Zeynep Aydar

Zeynep Aydar is a research assistant in the project "Integration in Rural Areas of Baden-Württemberg" and a doctoral candidate at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Her dissertation project focuses on the field of education and integration of young refugees at the local level. Previously, she worked at the ILS - Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development. She studied Sociology and Architectural Culture at the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey (B.A.). During her studies, she spent a semester abroad at Goethe University Frankfurt. She holds a double M.A. degree from the Global Studies Programme from Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg and FLACSO Argentina. She spent another semester abroad at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Since 12/2023 - Editorial Assistant of the German Journal of Forced Migration and Refugee Studies (Z’Flucht)

Since 02/2023 - Research Assistant, Migration Policy Research Group, Institute for Social Sciences, University of Hildesheim.

02/2020 - 01/2023 - Research Assistant at ILS- Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development, H2020 EU-Projekt "EMpowerment through liquid Integration of Migrant Youth in vulnerable conditions"

2017 - 2019 | M.A. Degree Global Studies Programme, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg & FLACSO Argentina

2010 - 2015 | B.A. Degree in Sociology (Minor Degree in Architectural Culture), Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey

Aydar, Z., & Plöger, J. (2023). Young Refugees’ Integration Trajectories—The Critical Role of Local Resources in Germany. Social Sciences, 12(5), 293.  dx.doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050293
Aydar, Z. (2022). The Life Opportunities of Young Refugees: Understanding the Role, Function and Perceptions of Local Stakeholders. Social Sciences, 11(11), 527.  dx.doi.org/10.3390/socsci11110527
Plöger, J. & Aydar, Z. (2022): Working Paper. (Public Report in frame of MIMY Project). www.mimy-project.eu/outcomes/public-deliverables/MIMY_870700_D6-6_Working_paper_final.pdf
Plöger, J. & Aydar, Z. (2021): The role of the local population for migrant integration. (Public Report in frame of MIMY Project). www.mimy-project.eu/outcomes/public-deliverables/MIMY_870700_D6-3_Role_of_local_population_final.pdf
Aydar, Z. (2020). ‘Please don't turn the stove off!’: Travelling with the çaydanlık and Turkish tea. In Routed Magazine, Issue 11. www.routedmagazine.com/travelling-turkish-tea

Biographical meaning of education: Understanding the integration trajectories of young refugees in Germany, Presentation in IMISCOE Annual Conference 2023, Warsaw July 3 - 6, 2023

Voluntary engagement by migrants as localised resource (mit Jörg Plöger), Presentation in IMISCOE Annual Conference 2023, Warsaw July 3 - 6, 2023

The (local) mismatch of integration landscapes – the perspective of vulnerable young migrants (with Jörg Plöger),  Presentation in Netzwerk Fluchtsforshung 2022, Chemnitz 28-30.09.2022

Working with Peer Research in a European Project about Migrant Youth Integration, Workshop Participant in IMISCOE Annual Conference 2021, Oslo June 29 - July 1, 2022

Evolving local integration landscapes (with Jörg Plöger), Presentation in IMISCOE Annual Conference 2022, Oslo June 29  - July 1, 2022

Who is responsible for integration? Stakeholders’ perspectives and their attitudes at the local level (with Penke, Swantje). Presentation in IMISCOE Annual Conference 2021,Online, 09.07.2021

"Concepts of migrant integration revisited: processes and stability" in the workshop "Norms and Values in Migration and Integration", Participation in Podium Discussion in IMISCOE Annual Conference 2021, 09.07.2021

How to Transfer Artistic Knowledge? The Case of Turkish Musicians in Germany. Presentation in IV ISA Forum of Sociology, Online, 27.02.2021

Migration and the local population - people and places under duress? (with Jörg Plöger) Presentation, AK Geograpische Migrationsforschung, 19.11.2020

Kemalist National Narrative, Identity and Belonging: The Case of Turkish Classical Musicians in Germany, Presentation, New Perspectives in Turkey Studies in the German-Speaking Countries VI, 30-31.10.2020

Identity and Belonging: The Case of Turkish Classical Musicians in Germany, Poster Presentation in Herkunft Zukunft Konferenz, 27.11.2019, Berlin

„Working with Peer Research“. Workshop as part of the MIMY Final Conference, 14.10.2022, Brussels (with Amalia Gilodi)

„Academic Youth Ambassadors“. Workshop for the Youth Ambassadors Association, May – June 2020, Online.

Die Kunst des Interviews. Seminar as part of the project "Welcome and active - newcomer women in the neighborhood!" from Migration Miteinander e.V. und Quartiersmanagement Witten Heven-Ost/ Crengeldanz, 08.10.2020, Witten.

How to strengthen civil society through youth work? Implication of public sphere theories into real life to overcome challenges of democracy, Workshop Host in Winter Forum by Stiftung Mercator, 9.01.2020, Essen.