Tarsus University hosted a working group meeting on May 22–23, 2025, as part of the EU-funded COST Action CA21120 HIDDEN: History of Identity Documentation in European Nations: Citizenship, Nationality and Migration.

Participants of the meeting included academics and students from the University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), the University of Malta, the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, the Hasan Aliyev Institute of Geography and the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as from Turkish institutions including Özyeğin University, Yıldız Technical University, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Bursa Uludağ University, and Tarsus University.

During the meeting, COST Action participants discussed various aspects of Turkey’s migration management and the documentation process for migrants, with particular attention to sectors such as education, healthcare, and local governance.

On the second day of the program, Cengiz Hışman, Migration Expert at the Mersin Provincial Directorate of Migration Management, delivered a presentation on the legal and administrative dimensions of the migrant documentation process. This was followed by a presentation by Project Expert Nihal Yıldız from the Mersin Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen (as part of the BİLMER Project), who shared insights and experiences regarding consultancy services related to migrant integration into the labor market, business establishment processes, and work permits.

Coordinated by Dr. Tuğba Aydın Halisoğlu, the meeting concluded successfully, laying the groundwork for future academic collaborations and new project initiatives among participating institutions.