In recent years, international migration has been recognised as one of the most important social processes that strongly influences the spheres of politics, economics and cultural identity. This is particularly evident in relation to Poland, which has undergone an accelerated transformation from an emigration country to an emigration-immigration country in a very short period of time.

Motivated by a sense of co-responsibility for the effects of changes brought about by migration, especially at the local and regional level, the Observatory of Migration, operating within the structures of the Centre for Sustainable Development of the University of Gdansk, was established at the University of Gdansk.

The creation of a unit dealing with migration makes it possible to integrate the community of migration researchers working at UG and thus develop interdisciplinary research in this field.

Taking into account the currently emerging demand for specialist knowledge in the broadly defined area of migration, the Observatory is intended to provide a forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience between researchers, practitioners, public administration institutions (both state and local government levels), local communities, NGOs, migrants and entrepreneurs.