Dr Annavittoria Sarli

• 2011 - PhD in Social Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
• 2007 - M.A. in Anthropology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
• 2007 - B.A. in Sciences and Techniques of Linguistic and Cultural Mediation, Catholic University in Milan

Annavittoria Sarli has specialised in migration and intercultural studies since completing her B.A. at the Catholic University of Milan (2004). She gained a M.A. in Anthropology (2007) and a PhD in Social Sciences (2011) at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia with a thesis on “The malaise of caring. The professional experience of female migrant carers in Italy”.

Between 2008 and 2019 she worked as a researcher at the ISMU Foundation in Milan where she conducted research on the relation between migration and health, the migration & development nexus, migrant labour inclusion, the recognition of migrants' skills and qualifications, and the interaction between religion, migration and integration. She has collaborated both with academic institutions (Catholic University of Milan, University of Milan and University of Parma) as lecturer and student supervisor and with NGOs, migrant organisations and schools. She has also participated in the design and management of large-scale international projects.

In 2020 she joined the Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS) at the University of Birmingham as a Marie S. Curie post-doctoral fellow. Her research project investigates the intercultural competence of second generations and their application to the UK and Italian labour market.

PhD title

The malaise of caring. The professional experience of female migrant carers in Italy" (in Italian), built on a conceptual framework combining sociology (in particular Luhmann's theory of social systems), migration studies and transcultural psychology, and used qualitative methods. It was awarded the national award for best thesis on multiethnic society and citizenship by the S. Pio V Institute in Rome (2011).   

Research experience at the IRiS Centre (University of Birmingham)

Annavittoria Sarli is currently developing the Marie S. Curie research project MIDIC – Migrant descendants’ intercultural competence and their recognition in the UK and Italy labour market. The research work will be carried out through qualitative interviews and focus groups with both second generation university students and employers. The project aims to shed light on the features of migrant descendants’ intercultural competence and the factors hindering or favouring their development. At the same time, it intends to put forward recommendations on how to best use the potential of this competence in the labour market.

Research experience at the ISMU Foundation (Initiatives and Studies on Multi-Ethnicity - Milan)

Between 2012 and 2019 Annavittoria worked as research assistant in the Economy and Labour Department of the ISMU Foundation.

Between 2018 and 2019, as a researcher, she coordinated the “Dimicome” project supported by Italy’s Ministry of the Interior and led by the ISMU Foundation. “Dimicome” aims at enhancing the value of migrants’ competence in the Italian labour market through research, training and awareness-raising on both Diversity Management and approaches to skill recognition.

Between 2011 and 2012 she participated as research assistant in the international project “Joint Research on Regional Integration and Infectious Diseases in Asia and Europe”, supported by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF – Singapore) and carried out by the ISMU Foundation and the Yuchengco Center (Manila).

Between 2018 and 2010 she worked as research assistant within the EU-funded project “MAPID - Migrants’ Associations And Philippine Institutions for Development”, led by the Scalabrini Migration Centre (Manila). 

Research experience at the Catholic University of Milan

Between 2016 and 2019 Annavittoria participated in the research project "Migration and religious belonging”, supported and implemented by the Catholic University in Milan (Sociology Department). Within this framework she focused on the relation between religion and migrant integration.

Between 2016 and 2017 she worked as senior researcher and outreach officer in the project "Health in Motion. Exploring needs, valuing resources, building networks”, supported by the Auxologico Hospital and implemented by the Catholic University of Milan. The project aimed at investigating the health needs of migrants in Milan and identifying innovative strategies to meet them.

Between 2014 and 2015 she coordinated and participated as senior researcher in the EU-funded project “DIVERSE” led by the Catholic University in Milan. Through research and dissemination, “DIVERSE” aimed at fostering migrant inclusion in the labour market and enhancing the value of cultural diversity as an asset for EU companies.