WEBVTT FILE 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:05.360 My name is Alaa Maksoud. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:07.280 I'm 27 years old. 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:10.200 I come from Syria. from Damascus. 00:00:10.200 --> 00:00:14.160 I've been here for about two and a half years. 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:17.920 I completed my medical degree in Syria 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:20.600 and then I came straight here. 00:00:24.040 --> 00:00:26.960 I’m Elvis Brkic from Bosnia 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:29.640 and I'm 40 years old. 00:00:29.640 --> 00:00:31.880 And for 3 years 00:00:31.880 --> 00:00:35.440 I've been working for the RENG Gruppe, in Neustadt an der Donau. 00:00:35.440 --> 00:00:38.440 as an electrical fitter. 00:00:40.440 --> 00:00:41.840 My name is Olga Trukhanova. 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:43.800 I'm 45 years old. 00:00:43.800 --> 00:00:46.760 I came to Germany nine years ago. 00:00:46.760 --> 00:00:49.480 I'm from eastern Ukraine. 00:00:49.480 --> 00:00:51.880 I work in hairdressing as a master craftswoman. 00:00:51.880 --> 00:00:54.760 I now have my own hair studio. 00:00:54.760 --> 00:00:56.080 I'm self-employed. 00:01:00.800 --> 00:01:03.080 I have been working here for a year. 00:01:03.080 --> 00:01:05.960 I came to Germany alone. 00:01:05.960 --> 00:01:10.720 That was difficult because I had to sort everything out on my own. 00:01:11.520 --> 00:01:14.680 I do have a twin sister though. She lives in Bielefeld, 00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:17.000 but that's a bit far away. 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:20.160 And my brother is a dentist in Berlin. 00:01:20.160 --> 00:01:25.400 First I heard that training for doctors here was supposed to be very good. 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:32.080 And also, people have already had a lot of experience of Syrian doctors here and we are very welcome. 00:01:32.080 --> 00:01:34.440 Then there's also the war in my home country. 00:01:34.440 --> 00:01:37.880 which is the reason I came here. 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:42.240 The moment I realised that I’d properly arrived 00:01:42.240 --> 00:01:45.160 was when I received the approbation. 00:01:45.160 --> 00:01:49.280 I'm now allowed to begin my specialist medical training. 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:51.160 It was not easy getting to this point. 00:01:51.160 --> 00:01:56.120 In my case, it didn't take so long because I didn't do anything else. 00:01:56.120 --> 00:01:58.080 I just studied intensively. 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:01.960 Being able to speak the language is not enough, you also have to know the technical language 00:02:01.960 --> 00:02:05.480 and have the technical knowledge. From a medical perspective this means 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:07.120 knowing the medicines and the doses. 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:11.560 And as a doctor, you have to know how to talk to patients. 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:13.160 The language is essential. 00:02:13.160 --> 00:02:17.720 If your understanding is good and you can speak well, then you can integrate successfully. 00:02:17.720 --> 00:02:24.280 My German friends helped me with my recognition, for example with translations and explanations. 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:28.000 My Syrian colleagues are very helpful. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:31.680 They already know how to go about this. 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:34.320 And there’s also the IQ Network. 00:02:34.320 --> 00:02:36.760 I went there for advice. 00:02:36.760 --> 00:02:39.880 I said to them: “These are my documents. What else do I need?” 00:02:40.440 --> 00:02:44.840 They said that everything was complete and that I could send it to the State Office. 00:02:45.640 --> 00:02:50.360 Alaa Maksoud completed her medical degree in Syria in 2018 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:54.120 and was therefore well-qualified when she arrived in Germany. 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:58.280 I'm Jana. Jana Kirchberger. And I am project manager 00:02:58.280 --> 00:03:04.000 for the IQ subproject “Knowledge test preparation for doctors” 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:07.600 at the Brandenburg Medical School. 00:03:07.600 --> 00:03:12.320 I would say that the recognition process was very straightforward in Alaa Maksoud's case. 00:03:12.320 --> 00:03:14.360 After just one year 00:03:14.360 --> 00:03:19.480 she passed the C1 technical language test for medicine, 00:03:19.480 --> 00:03:22.480 achieving a very high level of language. 00:03:22.480 --> 00:03:25.200 Alaa came to my attention immediately 00:03:25.200 --> 00:03:30.320 due to her being very actively involved and committed in the classes. 00:03:30.320 --> 00:03:32.000 And also because in November 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:35.920 she successfully passed the knowledge test. 00:03:35.920 --> 00:03:40.280 For future potential employers 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:45.160 – for clinics and hospitals – Alaa is a real godsend. 00:03:45.160 --> 00:03:50.160 And patients can also look forward to a technically highly competent 00:03:50.160 --> 00:03:53.360 but also empathetic young doctor 00:03:53.360 --> 00:04:00.600 who is helping Germany to maintain a high level of medical provision. 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:07.280 As result of recommendations from people I knew very well 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:10.480 and after discussing it with my family 00:04:10.480 --> 00:04:15.360 I opted for a path to a new future. 00:04:15.600 --> 00:04:18.640 My experiences of the company 00:04:18.640 --> 00:04:23.640 have been nothing but positive, because we are a great team. 00:04:24.600 --> 00:04:29.440 I have to be honest. There aren't many differences. 00:04:29.440 --> 00:04:32.360 Apart from the Bavarian language. 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:36.320 That caused me some problems. 00:04:36.320 --> 00:04:40.720 Waiting for recognition made me nervous. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:43.880 Otherwise I can't complain. 00:04:43.880 --> 00:04:48.560 My colleagues in the HR department did all the communicating 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:51.920 with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:54.600 I helped with the process. 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:57.400 not just with making the application, but beforehand, 00:04:57.400 --> 00:04:59.320 before Elvis started with us. 00:04:59.320 --> 00:05:01.000 with searching for a flat, 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:03.920 so that he already had a home to go to when he started with us. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:08.600 Arranging meetings with the local authorities, with the bank. So he had everything in place. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:13.280 For example, a German SIM card so that he could make calls here 00:05:13.280 --> 00:05:17.840 and could call his family who are still abroad. 00:05:17.840 --> 00:05:21.040 And it was not until then that we actually started on the application. 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:23.880 So I helped with completing the application, requesting documents 00:05:23.880 --> 00:05:27.640 and then sending these to IHK FOSA, to Nuremberg. 00:05:27.960 --> 00:05:30.840 Coming to Germany as a “foreigner” is already difficult enough, 00:05:30.840 --> 00:05:34.480 let alone coming to Bavaria. With the Bavarian language. 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:38.760 But I think he's dealing with that really well, he’s integrated well in the team 00:05:38.760 --> 00:05:40.920 and the work he does is really good. 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:47.560 For me, professional recognition basically means foreign colleagues having a chance to settle in Germany. 00:05:47.560 --> 00:05:50.040 Basically it also gives them evidence 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:54.320 that the training they completed abroad is also recognised here. 00:05:54.320 --> 00:05:57.080 It also means they have better chances of finding work. 00:05:57.080 --> 00:06:00.240 and of being more valued by colleagues. 00:06:01.560 --> 00:06:04.400 These days everyone’s talking about the skilled worker shortage 00:06:04.400 --> 00:06:06.760 and for us as a company in the electrical industry 00:06:06.760 --> 00:06:09.480 it is obviously very difficult getting hold of skilled workers. 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:14.480 In 2018 we therefore made a conscious decision to come up with a plan 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:19.800 which involved looking abroad and seeking to integrate skilled workers from abroad here with us. 00:06:21.440 --> 00:06:27.840 We've now been following this plan for three years and have so far been able to attract 40 to 50 employees mainly from Bosnia and Serbia. 00:06:27.840 --> 00:06:30.320 And we believe this is the right path to take. 00:06:30.320 --> 00:06:35.560 we have a good mix in our company and we will also continue with this policy. 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:40.760 We would also advise other companies to be confident, just give it a try, 00:06:40.760 --> 00:06:43.840 and get going with skilled worker recognition. 00:06:43.840 --> 00:06:49.240 First time round it is certainly not easy, it takes time, and may be frustrating here and there. 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:55.160 However, the second, third and fourth time round, it becomes easier and easier, and everything runs like clockwork. 00:06:56.880 --> 00:07:01.720 I came for private reasons in order to start a family. 00:07:01.720 --> 00:07:08.160 To start with I wanted to go back to Ukraine all the time. That was in the first year. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:11.520 But then this conflict began 00:07:11.520 --> 00:07:15.200 in eastern Ukraine. The economic situation wasn't so good. 00:07:15.200 --> 00:07:21.440 And I therefore decided to become integrated here in Germany as quickly as possible 00:07:21.440 --> 00:07:25.880 and to start getting my profession sorted officially in some way. 00:07:25.880 --> 00:07:34.560 The moment I had the feeling of having properly arrived in Germany was 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:39.760 when I was working in a large salon here in Mannheim as a salaried employee. 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:42.560 Yes. I really enjoyed that. 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:47.120 And the second moment I had this feeling 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:51.960 was when I opened my own hair studio. 00:07:51.960 --> 00:08:00.600 I found out that in Baden-Württemberg you are entitled to have your foreign qualification 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:04.160 checked for equivalence. 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:07.720 Step number 1, and this is very important, is good advice. 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:09.840 For me, that was mainly the Chamber of Crafts and Trades. 00:08:09.840 --> 00:08:15.200 Step number 2 was showing them all of my documents. 00:08:15.200 --> 00:08:19.880 And they then checked whether my documents were recognised by the government. 00:08:19.880 --> 00:08:27.760 The Chamber of Crafts and Trades decided that I would do the first two parts of the master craftsperson examination there because they had a hairdressing master craftsman on site. 00:08:27.760 --> 00:08:34.960 The first part of the master craftsperson examination involved specialist practical knowledge and the second part involved specialist theoretical knowledge. 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:43.040 I then had to present my business start-up in the form of a business plan at the Chamber of Crafts and Trades. 00:08:43.040 --> 00:08:46.720 I don't just feel like I have professional recognition. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:52.160 I have recognition of me personally, recognition of my creativity. 00:08:52.160 --> 00:08:59.920 I can develop here professionally. I felt like a winner. 00:08:59.920 --> 00:09:02.560 I came here with my daughter. 00:09:02.560 --> 00:09:05.440 She is a student here in Germany. 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:11.640 She helps me in the salon. She's active online and does all the social media. 00:09:12.640 --> 00:09:21.560 I was personally very surprised that you can't just open a salon in Germany and that you also have to be recognised. 00:09:21.560 --> 00:09:30.200 On the one hand it is obviously a hurdle and it makes life difficult for many people that come to Germany because they want to do something. 00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:36.680 However, on the other hand, it is definitely also an integration process. You also have to learn the language, you have to adapt to the system. 00:09:36.680 --> 00:09:40.760 I really admire my mum for doing it. 00:09:40.760 --> 00:09:44.920 And this recognition has opened up a lot of doors for my mum. 00:09:44.920 --> 00:09:50.600 And, looking at it from this perspective, I also think it's good that you have to go through it. 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:56.080 Because it can help you to integrate better. 00:09:58.640 --> 00:10:00.160 My name is Claudia Moravek. 00:10:00.160 --> 00:10:02.760 I work for the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training 00:10:02.760 --> 00:10:07.960 and there I'm head of the division dealing with the recognition of foreign professional qualifications. 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:12.360 When the Recognition Act entered into force in 2012, 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:20.320 the main priority was getting those people already living in Germany with a migration background better integrated in the labour market. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:24.280 Back then, and in view of the skilled worker shortage which was already becoming apparent, 00:10:24.280 --> 00:10:29.040 we also wanted to utilise the act to contribute to ensuring the supply of skilled workers. 00:10:29.040 --> 00:10:35.760 We know from our statistics that well over 400.000 individuals 00:10:35.760 --> 00:10:44.160 both within Germany and abroad have made use of the Federal Government Recognition Act and the recognition acts of the federal states over recent years. 00:10:44.160 --> 00:10:46.720 The Recognition Act is effective 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:49.480 and is very well used. 00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:53.600 And that is particularly the case in areas such as care 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:57.680 or other occupations where we simply have a shortage of skilled workers. 00:10:59.640 --> 00:11:02.840 I would advise everybody else to be patient. 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:04.320 The route is not easy. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:07.040 It takes time, but it is doable. 00:11:07.880 --> 00:11:15.280 I want to say to everybody: “Never give up, always strive for more! 00:11:15.280 --> 00:11:19.120 Recognition changes a lot in life.” 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:24.520 You have to keep looking forward, there is always something interesting to learn.