19.10.2020
Integration through recognition
The latest findings from the “National Integration Action Plan” (NAP-I) were presented at today’s 12th Integration Summit.
Around 120 business representatives and representatives of social partners, civil society and migrant organisations today attended the 12th Integration Summit at the invitation of the Federal Chancellor. The latest issues and findings from the “National Integration Action Plan” (NAP-I) were presented. The Action Plan is used by the Federal Government to bring together diverse measures and integrate these within a national strategy. It is based on five phases of immigration and cohabitation.
Today's discussion concerned Phase II “Initial integration: Facilitating arrival – communicating values” and Phase III “Integration: Providing for participation – encouraging and requiring active involvement”. The following issues formed the main focus: What opportunities does digitalisation offer for initial and ongoing integration? How can integration be organised efficiently and how can the stakeholders be supported?
Recognition and integration into the labour market
The Federal Minister of Education and Research, Anja Karliczek, stressed that the recognition of foreign professional qualifications has a key role to play in the integration of international skilled workers in Germany's labour market and in society
As the evaluation of the Recognition Act and the analyses of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) show, recognition results in a marked increase in salary for foreign skilled workers and in employment which much better reflects the level of training. Successful labour market integration through recognition also significantly increases the opportunities for social participation overall. The increasing numbers of applications for recognition from abroad mean that digital access methods and multilingual information options, such as the "Recognition in Germany" portal, are essential. One of the current challenges in particular is the process of applying digitally.
Another important aspect is having a well-developed range of job training schemes available enabling those interested in recognition to achieve full equivalence. To support this, the BIBB Recognition Monitoring Project is examining current solutions and challenges concerning knowledge tests, job training schemes and company-based training. When supporting skilled workers with foreign educational qualifications in the recognition and integration process, cooperation with the stakeholders involved is also important. Stakeholders include training providers, businesses, competent authorities, immigration and visa authorities as well as job centres and other providers offering support measures. Migrant organisations in particular play a crucial role for immigrants. In many cases they are already actively engaged in the recognition counselling and generate mutual trust with the provision of native language counselling. They are active partners in the NAP-I process.
A key stakeholder is the Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) – a central point of contact for skilled workers abroad. It supports immigrants when preparing the recognition application and accompanies them through the procedure until they arrive in Germany. By supporting the recognition procedure, they are building a bridge to labour market integration in Germany.
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is responsible for the topics of “vocational recognition” and “education and training” within in NAP-I. The Federal Government specified four core projects in the area of recognition in the summer. These are the recognition grant, the Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA), the Recognition Round Table, and the process chain for immigration in the care sector. Further projects in phase II concern “language support”, “guidance provision” and “education and training as the basis of successful integration and participation”.
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is supporting BMBF, which heads the topic-specific forum “Recognition of professional and educational qualifications”, by contributing content and with events.
Further information
National Integration Action Plan (NAP-I): Report on Phase II (PDF, 3 MB)
National Integration Action Plan (NAP-I)
BMBF: Integration through education and training
Recognition reports and evaluation reports