The Network IQ – Integration through Qualification

In 2021, Germany was home to around 22.3 million people with a migration background, amounting to 27 percent of the population. Due to a number of factors, unemployment is about twice as high among people who have a migration background compared to those who do not. In recent years, immigration to Germany has risen significantly, particularly from other EU countries. Many of these migrants hold professional degrees or other valuable credentials that are frequently not recognised in Germany. At the same time, skills shortages are becoming more evident in the German labour market.

The Mission of the Network IQ – Integration through Qualification

Against this background, it is essential to tap all available potential, including that of migrants. Since 2005, the Network IQ – Integration through Qualification has been working to improve employment opportunities for people with a migration background.

Oftentimes, migrants are perceived in stereotypical and deficient ways. Bringing to light the diverse potential of migrants and raising the awareness of discriminative conditions in labour markets is crucial for improving labour market integration in a diverse society. 

Following its success in the 2014 to 2020 ESF funding period and in light of the increasing professional matching problems on the labour market, the programme will be further developed as part of the 2021 to 2027 ESF Plus funding period. The programme builds on the results achieved so far and develops new concepts and solutions aimed at strengthening skilled worker acquisition and retention in Germany.

The programme, which is active in all 16 federal states, is funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) and the European Union via the ESF Plus in two funding rounds – 2023 to 2025 and 2026 to 2028 – and is managed by the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). Funding to the tune of 210 million euros for approximately 270 subprojects around the country is available in the 2023 to 2025 funding round. Partners in implementing the programme are the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal Employment Agency (BA).

The Cooperative Structure of the Network IQ

At the federal level, the IQ Networking Project and the three IQ Competence Centres Recognition and Job Training, Fair Integration and Immigration and Integration work closely together. The networking project and the Competence Centres support the programme actors in the implementation of the programme in the regions, ensure (subject-specific) networking, the identification of IQ good practice and disseminate the results of their work in the network and in the professional public.

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