Refugee Scholars Research Network

Working groups and interactive networks that will promote truly comparative research focusing on matters of substance, matters of procedure and best practices. For example, in legal research, substantive issues may include assessment of the various definitions of "refugee" that are employed in different jurisdictions and the various interpretations of the Refugee Convention definition; the different understandings of "state protection" and "internal flight alternative" and, the differential application of the exclusion clauses. Procedural issues may include the assessment of the various conceptions of fairness that inform the process of refugee status determination; the availability of legal aid and assistance; and, access to judicial review. Issues of practice may include the various institutional devices employed to deal with difficult cases such as unaccompanied minors, victims of torture, and the differing benefits accorded to refugee claimants.
 
The goal of the RRN is to ensure that this network(s) of researchers although widely dispersed, will be working together effectively through the use of information and communications technology. Within a virtual community, researchers can collaborate, communicate, share resources, access remote equipment or computers and produce results as effectively as if they, and the resources they require, were physically co-located. A virtual community will be able to cope with the cultural and methodological differences of different disciplines. It will enable effective team work that can be as open and participative, closed and private, formal or informal and structured or unstructured as required; it will change between these states dynamically, depending on the nature and the stage of the research.