Best Practice for Integration and Recognition

Germany is urgently seeking skilled workers. The crucial part is not only to acquire international talent but also be able to retain it in the long term. However, specific local projects and initiatives are required for successful integration in the labour market. This is the starting point for the competition “Zusammen wachsen: Ideen für Integration am Arbeitsmarkt” [Growing together: Ideas for labour market integration]. Out of over 250 applications 50 winners were selected whose innovative approaches show how integration in the German labour market can be successful. The competition sorts the most successful project ideas into the following five key areas: Integration in work life, educational opportunities, public discourse, everyday life and arrival, and building bridges.

Three special projects regarding recognition are among the 2025 prize winners in the key area of educational opportunities.:

• LehrkräftePLUS, an innovative training programme selected as a lighthouse project, specifically supports refugee teachers from third countries. At five locations in North Rhine-Westphalia (Bielefeld University, Ruhr University Bochum, University of Duisburg-Essen, University of Cologne, University of Siegen) teachers receive practical preparation for their future roles in the German educational system. The comprehensive continuing education makes it possible for participants to deepen their existing knowledge and competencies. Successfully completing the programme means graduates can access the next programme “Internationale Lehrkräfte Fördern” (ILF), which is directly connected to teaching at schools. 
• teach again helps immigrant teachers to successfully enter the German educational system. The programme offers language-sensitive specialist lessons, individual coaching, and work experience at schools in Thuringia. The project is especially valued because it specifically prepares participants for recognition, opens up job prospects and helps establish private contacts. At the same time, teach again strengthens teachers’ self-efficacy, supports long-term networks, and actively contributes to managing the skilled labour shortage.
• FABIDO Startklar: The Startklar project supports immigrant skilled workers during the recognition of their qualifications in early years education. Participants combine language lessons with practical work in nursery schools, are closely supervised during on-site visits and quality circles, and benefit from networks. The goal is to acquire skilled workers for the long term and to reduce the skilled worker shortage.

Jury member Claudia Moravek, Head of the BIBB Division “Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications” emphasises: “We are working to ensure that immigrant skilled workers can successfully integrate into the German labour market via the recognition of foreign professional qualifications. Recognition opens up valuable job prospects – and these projects contribute significantly to this.”

The information portal “Anerkennung in Deutschland” has gathered other examples from practice that show how recognition procedures can be improved: Optimised recognition

Do you have a good practice example? We would love to hear from you! Share a good practice example

More information

Competition labour market integration

Award winners 2025

BIBB-Division "Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications"