Recognition of qualifications which have been acquired abroad – vocational integration of migrants Projects and experiences from Vienna/Austria Regions for economic change 16 February 2009, Brussels

Content of my presentation Short introduction about the situation of migrants in Vienna EQUAL and current projects and initiatives Conclusions

Beratungszentrum für Migranten und Migrantinnen (Counselling Centre for Migrants) Founded 25 years ago Independent NGO Counselling in 21 languages In labour-market issues, migration law, educational and social affairs

Vienna has Austrias largest share of migrants Significant change in the educational structure of immigrated persons during the past decades (low-skilled vs high- skilled) Job-related potential of migrants is scarcely exploited Employment in branches which are rather low- salaried, focused in small and medium enterprises and in seasonal jobs Acquired education is only partially recognized Frequently jobs below the educational level in spite of a good education

European Community Initiative EQUAL - a variety of projects were created Mentoring for qualified female migrants (Opening the glass door) Development and testing of new foreign language materials in the electric and metal field Development of information blocks and workshops for multipliers and counsellors in the educational and labour market field

European Community Initiative EQUAL - a variety of projects were created Training course for migrants in order to become trainers in the labour market and educational context Testing of e-learning elements for migrants Documentary film: Migration as an opportunity

Further development after EQUAL Most of these projects exist still after EQUAL in Vienna, carried out and funded by different institutions, e.g. from the Public Employment Service Vienna Among others, special recognition and further educational counselling centres were founded for refugees and people with subsidiary protection status– project PERSPEKTIVE (co-funded from the European Refugees Fund) new immigrants (co-funded from the European Social Fund)

Recognition and Further Educational Counselling Centre for New Immigrants a project of the Beratungszentrum für Migranten und Migrantinnen sponsor-independent and individual counselling concerning formal educational achievements which have been obtained abroad multilingual The objective is to reach the people as soon as possible after their entry to Austria and to take first steps for a qualified job.

Support for integration and the establishment of residency in Vienna Start Coaching (in the mother tongue) of the City of Vienna for all newly immigrated people since 1st October Vienna Education Booklet with vouchers for German Integration Courses. Career counselling groups for newly arrived migrants at the Vienna Employment Promotion Fund. Informative events concerning relevant topics – health, school and education, living, my languages and learning German. Recognition of qualifications acquired abroad > counselling centre.

Conclusions Important was and is the colloboration with/of the important Viennese players in the labour market policy - City of Vienna (municipal departments for Integration and Diversity, for Immigration, Citizenship and Registry Offices) - Public Employment Service Vienna - Vienna Employment Promotion Fund - Social partners - Counselling Centre for migrants and NGOs.

Colloboration Periodic and different steering and working groups were installed in the last years. European Funding Programms support such developments, e. g. EQUAL or the Territorial Employment Pact (European Social Fund). Through these collaborations different projects and initiatives. Advantage a new integration politic in Vienna, objectification of the discussion.

Conclusions But there are boundaries of a regional employment and integration policy > Need of changes on national level! -Alteration of legal framework conditions and practices during the recognition of formal qualifications. -Recognition of practical experience and employment. -Acceptance of the acquired qualifications on a wide scale.

Thank your for attention! Norbert Bichl, InterCulturExpress was funded by the European Social Fund and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Labour within the framework of the EQUAL common initiative programme. Recognition and further educational counselling centre for new immigrants is sponsored by the funds of the municipal department 17 (city of Vienna), the European Social Fund and the Vienna Employment Promotion Fund.