Nordic-Baltic Migration Conference 16.10.2025 Programme

Keys of Integration through Access to Digital Tools and Affordable Housing

Date: 16 October 2025

Location: Estonian National Museum, Muuseumi tee 2, Tartu, Estonia

10.30-11.00 Registration

11.00-11.30 Opening remarks

Moderator: Tiit Tammaru, Professor of the University of Tartu, Member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences

• Maria Gratschew, Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Estonia
• Eda Silberg, Undersecretary for Cultural Diversity, Ministry of Culture of Estonia

11.30-12.35 Keynotes

Keynote 1: The Role of Digital Turn and Mobility of People in Integration Studies: Remote Work, Multilocality and Transnational Lifestyles – by Olle Järv, Visiting Professor of Human Geography, University of Tartu; Docent in Human Geography, University of Helsinki

Keynote 2: Nordic Integration and Housing Policies from a Comparative Perspective – by Henrik Emilsson, Associate Senior Lecturer at the Department of Global Political Studies, Malmö University

Followed by questions, comments and discussion.

12.35-13.40 I session: Welcoming Communities, Access to Decent Housing

12.35 Straight from the Source: What Do Newcomers Need Most? Survey 2025, Estonia

Mari Arnover, Coordinator and Service Designer of the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities

12.50 Experiences and Challenges Related to Housing in Bærum, Norway

Camilla Bildsten, Bærum kommune, Flyktningkontoret

13.00  Community Sponsorship: Connecting Refugees with Local Communities

Vytautas Ežerskis, RISE Project Manager, International Organization for Migration (IOM Lithuania) 

13.10-13.50 Panel discussion

Mari Arnover, Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities

Henrik Emilsson, Department of Global Political Studies, Malmö University

Olle Järv, University of Tartu, University of Helsinki

Camilla Bildsten, Bærum kommune, Flyktningkontoret

Vytautas Ezerskis, IOM Lithuania

13.50-14.30 Lunch

14.30- 16.00 II session: Digital Tools of Integration

14.30 Opening remarks by the Moderator:

Kaisa Kepsu, Operations Manager, Nordic Welfare Centre, Helsinki

14.40 Digital Literacy for Integration

Margarita Källo , Adviser of Cultural Diversity, Ministry of Culture of Estonia

14.50 Experiences of the Språkkraft NGO Language Learning Method in Sweden

Henrik Melin, Språkkraft, Sweden

15.00 Experiences of Latvia on the Role of Digital Tools for Integration

Jeļena Šaicāne, Head of Cohesive Society Policy Department, Ministry of Culture of Latvia

15.10 Lithuania’s experience in using digital tools in integration process

Monika Žitkė, Head of Integration Coordination Division, Reception and Integration Agency of Lithuania

15.20-16.00 Panel discussion

Margarita Källo, Ministry of Culture of Estonia

Farid Azizov, Tallinn Migration Centre, Coordinator

Henrik Melin, Språkkraft, Sweden

Monika Žitkė, Reception and Integration Agency of Lithuania

Jeļena Šaicāne, Ministry of Culture of Latvia

16.00-17.00 Snacks and wine

There is a possibility to visit the Exhibition at the Estonian National Museum “Rannarootslased. Estlandssvenskar. Estonia-Swedes“ about the traditional culture of the Coastal Swedes and the development of Estonian Swedish culture up to the present day.

More info: Rannarootslased. Estlandssvenskar. Estonia-Swedes | Eesti rahva muuseum