Transcript No Slide Title

Seminar 1
Advice, education and training
22-24 May 2007 – Malmö (Sweden)
EUROPEAN THEMATIC GROUP
ON ASYLUM SEEKERS
European Social Fund
Why advice, education and training?
Access to advice, education and training is an
essential part of the socio-vocational integration
process of asylum seekers:

Basic information on the host society (how things
work, ‘do’s and don’ts’, services available etc.)

Language training: essential to be able to go about
everyday life and function independently.

Vocational training: can enhance existing skills and
qualifications and bridge any gaps in the training or
experience needed to find eventual employment.
European Social Fund
What is the problem? (1)
1. Legal restrictions

In many EU Member States, asylum seekers have
no or only restricted access to education and
training.
Result: this can be detrimental not only to
asylum seekers’ integration into the new society
but also to their health and well-being.
European Social Fund
What is the problem? (2)
2. Other restrictions

Often asylum seekers do not have easy access to
information.
Result: they do not know where to find language
courses and other educational and training
opportunities.

In many Member States, there are no education
and training programmes aiming to assist
asylum seekers’ integration into the labour
market.
Result: Missed opportunities lead to dependence
on welfare and higher costs to host and support
asylum seekers
European Social Fund
What does the Reception Directive say? (1)
Article
Description
Information
and advice
Within 15 days of arrival, Member States
must inform asylum seekers about
relevant organisations that can assist
them and of health care services, in a
language that the asylum seeker
understands.
(Articles 5,
14, 21)
Information and advice about access to
accommodation is also to be provided.
In relation to appeals in case of a
negative decision on the asylum
application, procedures for access to legal
assistance must be provided in national
law.
European Social Fund
What does the Reception Directive say? (2)
Article
Description
Education /
School
(Article 10)
Minor asylum seekers and minor children
of asylum seekers have the same right to
education as nationals (the education can
be provided in accommodation centres).
The children must be able to access the
education within three months from the
date the asylum application was lodged.
Vocational
Training
(Art. 12)
Member States can allow asylum seekers
to participate in vocational training
whether they have access to the labour
market or not (but only if the vocational
training is not linked to an employment
contract).
European Social Fund
What has been done within EQUAL? (1)
Almost 85% of the 61 EQUAL asylum
seekers partnerships operating in Round 2
(2005-2007)
are
implementing
AET
activities, including:

general orientation;

face-to-face counselling;

activities to encourage empowerment and selfconfidence of asylum seekers

education, training programmes and courses

on-the-job training

Skills assessments
European Social Fund
What has been done within EQUAL? (2)
What are the specifics of programmes
developed by EQUAL partnerships compared
to mainstream advice, education and
training?

Many DP activities have combined language
training with the acquisition of other skills, e.g.
computing or in the context of vocational
training programmes; and,

Several DPs have developed programmes,
courses, methods and modules targeted at the
individual needs of asylum seekers (e.g. using
flexible training methods and subjects).
European Social Fund
What has been done within EQUAL? (3)
The following success factors have been
identified:

Integrating language teaching into a vocational
programme and/or on-the-job training is not
only cost-effective – it is also empowering for
asylum seekers and speeds up their eventual
integration;

The development of specific vocational training
programmes for asylum seekers facilitates the
learning process and enables them to better
‘profile’ themselves on the labour market;
European Social Fund
What has been done within EQUAL? (4)
The following success factors have been
identified:

Civic education, including intercultural learning
helps asylum seekers to better understand and
integrate in the host society;

Traineeships
and
other
forms
of
work
placements are a first and important step to
integration into the labour market, and can also
lead to ‘real’ employment;
European Social Fund
What has been done within EQUAL? (5)
The following success factors have been
identified:

Direct involvement of asylum seekers in
developing and running the activities were
positive for the creation of new models of
empowerment; and,

It ensures that the period during which asylum
seekers await the decision regarding their
asylum application can be purposefully used to
kick-start their integration process.
European Social Fund
What has been done within EQUAL? (6)
What are the results of EQUAL activities?
Positive outcomes for asylum seekers observed
by the DPs include improved:

Language skills;

Health;

Self-esteem;

Knowledge about the host society; and

Increased integration.
European Social Fund
Recommendations (1)
For amendment of the Directive:
1. There is scope for “exceeding” the minimum
standards of Article 12 of the Directive on
minimum standards for the reception of asylum
seekers (Vocational training)
Whilst the phrasing leaves a
vocational training to the
experience of the Development
the benefits this can bring not
also to the host society.
decision on access to
Member States, the
Partnerships illustrates
only to individuals but
European Social Fund
Recommendations (2)
For the implementation of the Directive:
1. The development of specific vocational
programmes for asylum seekers facilitates the
learning process and enables them to better
“profile” themselves on the labour market
2. Civic orientation and intercultural learning help
both asylum seekers and the host society
3. Traineeships and other forms of on-the-job
training are a first and important step which
help the integration of asylum seekers and can
lead to “real ” employment
European Social Fund
Recommendations (2)
For the implementation of the Directive:
4. Transnational work encourages learning and
the identification of approaches and methods,
which are applicable in different contexts
European Social Fund