DPhil Student Migration Studies
St Antony's College
Thesis Working Title: From Gatekeeping to Agency: Redefining Refugee Labour Mobility Pathways through Autonomous Access
Research Interests: My doctoral research examines refugee labour mobility pathways, with a particular focus on autonomous or independent access to skilled migration routes - an empirically observable but largely unexamined phenomenon in refugee migration research and policy. While complementary pathways have expanded opportunities for displaced professionals, they remain predominantly structured around intermediary organisations, often limiting the scope for refugee agency within mobility systems. My research investigates whether autonomous access - where refugees independently secure employment and navigate migration systems - can function as a viable, safe, and scalable alternative or complement to intermediary-driven models. I analyse the comparative efficiency and equity of these approaches, the institutional and policy frameworks that enable autonomous access, and the role of diaspora networks, digital platforms, and informal social capital. Using a mixed-methods approach, my work seeks to establish autonomous access as a distinct analytical category in refugee labour mobility while generating evidence-based insights for policymakers, governments, and employers designing future labour mobility systems.
Research Keywords: Refugee labour mobility; Complementary pathways; Skilled migration; Refugee agency; Autonomous access; Diaspora networks; Labour markets
About: Noura is an international development practitioner specialising in economic mobility pathways for refugees, with nearly a decade of experience advancing durable, employment-based solutions for displaced populations. Alongside her doctoral research, she is currently the recipient of grant funding to examine the viability of skilled migration pathways for refugees in the UAE. Previously, she served as Chief Program Officer at Talent Beyond Boundaries, where she helped build a global initiative in partnership with UNHCR to pioneer employment-based pathways for displaced populations. In this role, she oversaw operations across 14 countries and supported refugees from 26 nationalities to access long-term employment opportunities. Earlier in her career, Noura worked with Ashoka’s Social Finance team on market-based social innovations in the Middle East and served as a Kiva Fellow in Lebanon, designing catalytic loan themes for vulnerable migrant communities. She has also founded and advised several social initiatives across the MENA region. Noura holds an MA from Columbia University and an MBA from the University of Oxford. She is a recipient of the Arab America Foundation’s 40 Under 40 award and was named a Global Innovator by Expo Dubai.
Email: noura.ismail@sant.ox.ac.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nouraismail/
