Migration refers to the movement of people from one country, region, or locality to another. Migration may occur as a voluntary choice, or may be the result of being forced to move, for reasons ranging from war and conflict, to changes in laws, to political oppression. Although migration is often used as a synonym for immigration, migration refers broadly to movement into or out of an area, whereas immigration refers specifically to movement into another country. Approximately 1 of every 35 people (about 3% of the global population) is a migrant; such movement requires that educational institutions be prepared to support a mobile, diverse population. In 2008, there were 200 million migrants, which was 3% of the world's population of 7 billion. This entry describes ...