For further informa­tion on the IQ symposium, please check the special edition of thejournal "Migration Policy Practice"

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IQ Symposium 2016

What challenges do current migration flows to Europe carry with them with regard to the integration of migrants, and particularly of refugees, into employment and society? How can the integration policy process become more participative, coordinated and coherent? What can Germany, Europe and other world regions learn from each other’s experiences in integration policy and politics?

These and other questions were discussed at the international IQ Symposium ‘Labour Market Integration of Immigrants in Germany and Europe: Challenges, Perspectives, Opportunities’.

Date: 06. April 2016
Location: bcc Berlin Congress Centre, Alexanderstr. 11, 10178 Berlin
Participants: approx. 150 people

Programm

Panel 1: Integration of Refugees: National Perspectives on European Questions

Chair:
Peter Schatzer, Permanent Observer to the UN in Vienna and Advisor to the Secretary-General, Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean

Discussants:

  • Thorben Albrecht, State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Germany
  • Jon Simmons, Head of Migration and Border Analysis, Home Office, UN
  • Naika Foroutan, Berlin Institute for Empirical Research on Integration and Migration (MIB), Humboldt University

One major focus was on national perspectives on the best strategies to integrate refugees in society and employment. The broader question on how current migration trends will change European societies and identities was also addressed.

Parallel workshop sessions: Existing Good Practice for More Inclusive Labour Markets in Europe

WS 1: Integration of refugees into the job market

Facilitation: Doritt Komitowski, IQ Competence Centre on Immigration / Ümit Kiziltan, Citizenship and Immigration Canada

 

WS 2: Skilled migration: challenges and solutions

Facilitation: Ulrike Benzer, IQ Competence Centre on Counselling and Job Training / Daniel Hiebert, University of British Columbia, Canada

 

WS 3: Measures for an inclusive, non-discriminative job marke

Facilitation: Ania Szymanska, IQ Competence Centre on Intercultural Competence / Violet Roumeliotis, Settlement Services International (SSI), Australia

Panel 2 (fishbowl discussion): Integration and Governance: Towards Better Coordination of Stakeholders, Interests and Government Levels

  • Matthias Ruete, Director-General, DG Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission
  • Vanessa Ahuja, Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Germany
  • Annelie Buntenbach, Confederation of German Trade Unions
  • Pedro Calado, High Commissioner for Migration, Portugal
  • Thomas Liebig, International Migration Division, OECD

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