Research project led by Dr Hoxhaj on Albanian migrants awarded UCL Public Policy grant

A research project led by Dr Andi Hoxhaj (Lecturer (Teaching) in Law at UCL Laws) has received a £10,000 grant from UCL Public Policy. The scheme awards expert engagement grants to enable the development and delivery of urgent short-term policy work in response to policy demand.

The grant will allow Dr Hoxhaj to continue his research engagement activities on the Western Balkans, with a particular focus on Albania. In recent months, Dr Hoxhaj has spoken to various media about the reasons for Albanian migration to the UK and the role of organised crime networks – including the Express, ITV News, and The Times. In December 2022, he appeared before the Home Affairs Committee to give evidence on the increase in channel crossings by Albanian nationals and spoke to various media about Home Affairs Committee's inquiry – including BBC News, Sky News, and BBC Radio 4.  

Dr Hoxhaj commented:

"I am delighted to have received the grant and am grateful to UCL Public Policy and the Arts and Humanities Research Council for their support. Albania is understudied in UK public policy and academic scholarship, and I hope that this project will help to better understand some of the major policy challenges identified in December 2022 in the UK-Albania Joint Communique: Enhancing Bilateral Cooperation in Areas of Common Interest.

“Throughout this project, I will engage in knowledge exchange with several policymakers in Whitehall and parliamentarians in Westminster on issues such as justice and home affairs, economics and trade, youth, and education, allowing us to address the policy challenges outlined in the UK-Albania Communique.

"I hope that the knowledge exchange of this project will enable a better understanding of some of the underlying issues related to the rise of migration from Albania to the UK and that my research will contribute to the development of long-term and sustainable policy solutions to migration problems, as well as to the wider policy challenges of the UK's foreign policy towards the Western Balkans."

Andi has received a further award of £25,000 for the UCL Public Policy Expert Engagement Award, funded by Research England's QR Special Priorities Fund to develop public engagement related to this project.