Grand Prize Awarded for the First Immigration Policy Research Paper Contest

Under the guidance of Professor Yon Kyu-jin, Jang Hyun-jin, a Ph.D. student from the Department of Psychology at our general graduate school, won the grand prize at the first Immigration Policy Research Paper Contest hosted by the Migration Research & Training Centre.

This paper contest was held for the first time this year with the aim not only to identify promising researchers who are interested in immigration-related research areas including international migration, immigration, foreigners, and multiculturalism, but also creative ideas in related fields. According to the Migration Research & Training Centre, seven experts in related fields reviewed and judged the papers, and among them, a total of four papers were selected.

Jang Hyun-jin’s award-winning team consisted of himself, a Ph.D. student, and two other master’s students from Dankook University. The team received a favorable evaluation for its research on the relationship between employment barriers and mental health of young people with migrant backgrounds. The paper is about a study that focused on whether the effect of employment barriers on mental health varies depending on migration background, and it confirmed that mental health rapidly deteriorates as employment barriers increase. Through these results, the research team suggested that career and employment programs and social systems should be provided according to migration background.

Student Jang Hyun-jin said, “During my participation in a research project called ‘Successful Entrance into Adulthood and Improving Quality of Life for Young People with Migrant Backgrounds’, which is being carried out as a social science research (SSK)-supported project, I was given a great opportunity also to participate in the contest. Thanks to the guidance of the professor and the support of the research team, we were able to win the award.”