Knowledge by, for and about newcomers
Knowledge by, for and about newcomers
Research on newcomers' perspectives on civic integration
Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
2023-2027
Regioplan, BMC
Annual reports
Together with Regioplan and BMC, we are conducting research into the perspective of people integrating on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. OpenEmbassy is responsible for the qualitative part, which gives more color to the results of surveys conducted by Regioplan among people integrating.
A total of four reports will be published with the findings from the surveys and the qualitative part. To gather the perspective of people who are integrating, we deploy expert pools and in-depth interviews. In some cases, this is also supplemented by action research and design probes (in collaboration with Department of Extraordinary Affairs).
The first report will be published in 2023, the second in 2024, and a follow-up will be published in 2025. The final report will be published in 2027, so that the insights from this study can be used for the legislative evaluation of the Wi2021. This is the first time that such direct research has been conducted into the perspectives of people who are integrating into society.
The reports have been sent to the House of Representatives.
Learning the language is the central element for the integrationists we spoke to. Language first and then work or study. This seems at odds with the idea of duality in the new system. Because of the focus on language, there are also many concerns about the quality of language education. People experience that classes regularly drop out, groups are too large and differences are too great. On the one hand there is a need to be able to make an autonomous choice in which language course someone follows, on the other hand the extra support from the municipality is appreciated.
There is a lot to deal with when people are integrating, and before that, people have just spent a long time in reception. From the perspective of the people themselves, it is inexplicable that it is difficult or impossible to start working, studying or learning the language in reception, and that when they move, it all comes together at once. There is a need for perspective in the shelter.
The municipality is in charge of integration under the Wi2021. We see a shift to the client manager as the main source of information. It is important that information provision also matches people's needs. For example, whether there is the possibility to continue learning after B1 level when someone learns quickly and has a high language ambition. The experience with client managers varies from person to person. An important condition for a positive experience seems to be the space for persons integrating to have their own say and to express any concerns. This starts during the period of the broad intake.
