Albert Kraler

Assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr. Albert Kraler

Associate Professor - Department for Migration and Globalisation - Center for Migration and Globalisation Research

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Functions

Albert Kraler is Associate Professor in Migration Studies.

 

About the person

PhD in Political Science (University of Vienna), first degree in Political Science and African Studies (University of Vienna and School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London). Researcher, and  between 2011- and 2015 Head of Research at the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in Vienna; short-term fellowships at the Sussex Centre for Migration Research at the University of Sussex (2003-2004) and the Department for Political Science at the University of Vienna (2005-2006). Since end of 2018 member of the Department for Migration and Globalisation in different positions. Since 2026 Associate Professor in Migration Studies.

His current research interests include the governance of migration and asylum from a multilevel perspective, migration policy making and policy impacts, migrant integration and social cohesion and related policies, data and statistics on migration, forced displacement, active refugee migration policies, and irregular migration and regularisation policy.

View his profiles at ORCID, ResearchGate, Migration Research Hub, LinkedIN.

Projects (Extract Research Database)

Running projects

Regulating the Grey Zone: Fairness, Informality, and the Boundaries of Work

Duration: 01/10/2026–31/03/2030
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Albert Kraler
Funding: EU

Labour market effects of delayed labour market entry for refugees

Duration: 01/11/2025–31/03/2026
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Albert Kraler
Funding: sonstige öffentlich-rechtliche Einrichtungen (Körperschaften, Stiftungen, Fonds)

Estimating irregular migrants from social media data

Duration: 23/09/2025–15/05/2026
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Albert Kraler
Funding: Sonstige

Seed funding from Lower Austria for the REGROW project

Duration: 01/06/2025–16/09/2025
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Albert Kraler
Funding: Bundesländer (inkl. deren Stiftungen und Einrichtungen)

Refugee protection or cherry picking? Assessing new admissionpolicies for refugees in Europe

Duration: 01/03/2023–30/04/2027
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Albert Kraler
Funding: sonstige öffentlich-rechtliche Einrichtungen (Körperschaften, Stiftungen, Fonds)

Completed projects

Measuring Irregular Migration and Related Policies

Duration: 01/10/2022–30/09/2025
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Albert Kraler
Funding: EU

Exploring the Integration of Post-2014 Migrants in Small and Medium-sized Towns and Rural Areas from a Whole of Community Perspective

Duration: 01/01/2021–31/03/2024
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Albert Kraler
Funding: EU

Sustainable Practices of Integration (SPRING)

Duration: 01/03/2021–28/02/2023
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Albert Kraler
Funding: EU

Smart Migration and Asylum Governance (SMAG)

Duration: 01/09/2020–31/12/2022
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Mathias Czaika
Funding: Bund (Ministerien)

TRAFIG - Translocal Figurations of Displacement

Duration: 01/01/2019–30/06/2022
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Albert Kraler
Funding: EU
Program: H2020

Anbahnungsfinanzierung Land NÖ: Measuring Irregular Migration and Related Policies

Duration: 15/07/2021–07/10/2021
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Albert Kraler
Funding: Bundesländer (inkl. deren Stiftungen und Einrichtungen)

Legal and policy challenges and responses to environmentally induced migration

Duration: 26/02/2020–10/09/2020
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Albert Kraler
Funding: EU

Complementary Pathways for Adult Refugees: the Role of VET, Skills and Qualifications

Duration: 15/10/2018–03/06/2020
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Albert Kraler
Funding: EU
Program: CEDEFOP

Cross Migration

Duration: 01/03/2018–29/02/2020
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): Mathias Czaika
Funding: EU
Program: Horizon 2020

Publications (Extract Research Database)

Hendow, M., Bilger, V., Hofmann, M. Kraler, A. (2026). Migration policies addressing irregularity: a typology of responses. Comparative Migration Studies, 2026: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40878-026-00557-0

Rössl, L.; Kraler, A. (2026). Multilevel management of irregular migration and return in Austria: new insights and data. Zenodo, Krems

Kraler, A.; Skrivanek, I. (2025). Arenas of conflict? How local integration infrastructures and multi-level dynamics shape the space for conflict and cooperation at the local level in Austria. Local Government Studies, (issue to be assigned): https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930.2025.2600405

Ahrens, J.; Kraler, A.; Legarda Díaz-Aguado, I., Levoy, M. (2025). Handbook on Regularisation Policies: Practices, Debates and Outcomes. University of Krems Press, Krems

Kierans, D.; Kraler; A.(eds.) (2025). Handbook on Irregular Migration Data. Concepts, Methods and Practices. University of Krems Press, Krems

Ahrens, J.; Kraler, A. (2025). Overview of regularisation types – policy diversity and implications for migrant inclusion. In: Ahrens, J., Kraler, A., Legarda, I., Levoy, M., Handbook on Regularisation Policies: Practices, Debates and Outcomes. University of Krems Press: 32-37, University of Krems Press, Krems

Ahrens, J.; Kraler, A. (2025). Regularisation as a policy tool: defining scope, purpose and limits. In: Ahrens, J., Kraler, A., Legarda, I., Levoy, M., Handbook on Regularisation Policies: Practices, Debates and Outcomes. University of Krems Press. 23-31, University of Krems Press, Krems

Ahrens, J.; Kraler, A. (2025). Migrants in an irregular situation and regularisation – a longstanding debate. In: Ahrens, J., Kraler, A., Legarda, I., Levoy, M, Handbook on Regularisation Policies: Practices, Debates and Outcomes: 16-22, University of Krems Press, Krems

Hendow, M.; Kraler, A.; Bilger, V.; Hofmann, M. (2025). Navigating policy options: addressing the presence of long-term irregular migrant populations. In: Ahrens, J.; Kraler, A.; Legarda, I.; Levoy, M., Handbook on Regularisation Policies: Practices, Debates and Outcomes. 60-73, University of Krems Press, Krems

Kierans, D.; Kraler, A. (2025). Introduction – Making the case for better data on irregular migration. In: Kierans, D.; Kraler, A., Handbook on Irregular Migration Data. Concepts, Methods and Practices. 17-22, University of Krems Press, Krems

Kierans, D.; Kraler, A. (2025). Progress, limits, and the need for sustained effort. In: Kierans, D.; Kraler, A., Handbook on Irregular Migration Data – Concepts, Methods and Practices: 129-135, University of Krems Press, Krems

Kraler, A. (2025). Effects of regularisation. In: Ahrens, J.; Kraler, A.; Legarda, I.; Levoy, M., Handbook on Regularisation Policies: Practices, Debates and Outcomes. University of Krems Press. 52-59, University of Krems Press, Krems

Kraler, A.; Bircan, T.; Singleton, A. (2025). What is irregular migration? In: Kierans, D.; Kraler A., Handbook on Irregular Migration Data. Concepts, Methods and Practices: 23-40, University of Krems Press, Krems

Kraler, A.; Vankova, Z. (2025). Active refugee admission policies. Towards conceptual clarity? Refugee Survey Quarterly, 44(4): 573–594, Oxford University Press

Vargas-Silva, C.; Leerkes, A.; Kierans, D.; Siruno, L.; Kraler, A. (2025). Tools for collecting information on irregular migration estimates and indicators. Open Res Europe, 5:176: https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.20695.1, European Commission, DG RTD

Ahrens, J; Kraler, A. (2025). Pathways out of Migrant Irregularity (Box 1.1). In: Ahrens, J.; Kraler, A.; Legarda, I.; Levoy, M., Handbook on Regularisation Policies: Practices, Debates and Outcomes: 20, University of Krems Press, Krems

Cacciapaglia, M.; Ambrosini, M. ; Bonizzoni, P. ; Kraler, A.; Cyrus, N.; Desmond, A.; Ahrens, J.; Ahmad Yar, A. W.; Bircan, T.; Cassain, L.; Carvalho, J.; Finotelli, C.; Goldfarb, A.; França, T.; Heylin, R.; Mohan, S.; Neronov, A.; Slootjes, J.; Steiner, B.; & Triandafyllidou, A. (2025). Regularisation in Europe and North America: Comparative Reflections on Societal Challenges and Benefits. MIrreM Working Paper No 13, Krems

Kierans, D., Vargas-Silva, C., Ahmad-Yar, A. W., Bircan, T., Cacciapaglia, M., Carvalho, J., Cassain, L., Cyrus, N., Desmond, A., Fihel, A., Finotelli, C.; Gonzalez Ramos, M. P.; Heylin, R.; Jauhiainen, J.; Kraler, A.; Leerkes, A.; Nikolova, M.; Rössl, L.; Santos, S.; Schütze, T. ORCID icon Siruno, L,; Sohst, R. R. (2025). MIrreM Public Database on Irregular Migration Stock Estimates. University for Continuing Education Krems (Danube University Krems)

Kierans, D.; Vargas-Silva, C.; Ahmad-Yar, A. W.; Bircan, T.; Cacciapaglia, M.; Carvalho, J.; Cassain, L.; Cyrus, N.; Desmond, A.; Fihel, A.; Finotelli, C.; Gonzalez Ramos, M. P.; Heylin, R.; Jauhiainen, J.; Kraler, A.; Leerkes, A.; Nikolova, M.; Rössl, L.; Santos, S.; Schütze, T.; Sirruno, L. & Sohst, R. R. (2025). MIrreM Public Database on Irregular Migration Stock Estimates. University for Continuing Education Krems (Danube University Krems), Krems

Kraler, A. (2025). Linkage of administrative data in a data protection sensitive way – The case of Austria (Box 3.3.). In: Kierans, D.; Kraler, A., Handbook on Irregular Migration Data. Concepts, Methods and Practices: 49-50, University of Krems Press, Krems

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Lectures (Extract Research Database)

Agency in Active Refugee Admission Policies: Between Hypervulnerability and Refugee Entrepreneurship? (jointly with Zvezda Vankova)

23rd Annual Imiscoe Conference, 01/07/2026

Beyond admission: Comparing experiences of Ukrainian displaced persons and African refugees admitted through educational pathways (jointly with Zvezda Vankova)

23rd Annual Imiscoe Conference, 29/06/2026

Are active refugee admission policies dead? An exploratory analysis of the initiation and termination of active refugee admission policies.

Symposium: Governing Migration Between National Sovereignty and Global Interdependence, 12/06/2026

Beyond Admission: Comparing Experiences of Ukrainian Displaced Students in Germany and Italy (jointly with Zvezda Vankova)

Workshop: Between Temporariness and Durability: The Evolving Legal Landscapes and Everyday Lives of Displaced Ukrainians in Europe, 08/05/2026

Active Refugee Admission Policies: Theoretical and Empirical Insights (prepared together with and presented by Zvezda Vankova)

A Research Agenda for Migration Law and Governance,, 27/03/2026

Application of the Predictive Indirect Residual Method to official statistics published in EU context

8th Meeting of the Task Force on Implementation Guidelines for a Harmonised Population Base, 10/12/2025

Refugee protection or cherry picking? Assessing new admission policies for refugees in Europe.

Fachtagung Resettlement, humanitäre Aufnahme und komplementäre Zugangswege im Flüchtlingsschutz, 20/11/2025

MIrreM Key messages

Ten years of EU Migration Research and Innovation:, 18/11/2025

Comparing Pathways out of Migrant Irregularity: Findings from the MIrreM Database on Regularisation Policies in Europe

22nd IMISCOE Annual Conference, 03/07/2025

Does regularisation have a ‘pull effect’? Conceptual reflections, empirical evidence and a case study.

22nd IMISCOE Annual Conference, 03/07/2025

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