Today all over the world many people make one of the most challenging decisions in their lives: to leave their homes and townships in search of a safer or better life. Migration is a term that encompasses a wide variety of movements and situations that involve people of all walks of life and backgrounds. More than ever before, migration touches many countries and people in an era of deepening globalisation. There is a growing need for analytical tools and approaches that allow us to deal with the complex, contradictory, and contested nature of migration. We will share key findings from the British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, International Symposium Series on migration and consider the implications for career development policies, research and practice.
The terms “refugee”, “asylum-seeker” and “migrant” are often used to describe people who are on the move, who have left their countries and have crossed borders. The terms “migrant” and “refugee” are often used interchangeably but it is important to distinguish between them as there is a legal difference. There are negative perceptions of migrants in many societies. This is often framed in popular notions of “us” and “them”, presenting economic challenges, or perhaps being seen as raising security concerns or creating ambivalence in cultural and political spheres, all of which have affected how migrants are perceived by host societies. 9 academic peer reviewed articles and a book review provide insight to key themes and research underpinning guidance and counselling approaches. The growing rhetoric of building a wall, creating a new border force, establishing a camp, stopping the boats or restricting access has political, social and humanitarian consequences. We outline six key recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, academics and other interested parties. Finally, we call for more dynamic and cross-disciplinary research investigating this global phenomenon.