inburgering flemish policy / flanders / belgium good practises in brussels

Inburgering Flemish policy / Flanders / BelgiumGood practises in Brussels

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Eric De Jonge

General Director of bon

bon is the Brussels Welcome Office4 local offices and 92 multilingual employees

bon is financed by the Flemish community policy of inburgering

Belgium: a very brief reminder

• 1 federal state• 3 communities : Flemish, French,

German• 3 regions : Flanders,

Wallonia & Brussels• Different governments, different policies

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Inburgering = Civic Integration

• «an interactive process through which the government provides immigrants with a specific programme to help them increase their self-reliance on the one hand, and on the other hand to encourage society to recognise them as fully-fledged citizens, with the aim of achieving full, active participation and shared citizenship as well as sufficient social coherence. »

• active since 1st april 2004

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Target audience

• Adult newcomers and “old comers” Foreign nationality or Belgian

nationals born abroad Registered with

a Brussels municipality Residence status with

a prospect of long-term residence • Minor newcomers

Compulsory vs Voluntary

• Compulsory: only in Flanders Newcomers (< 1 year in Belgium) & Ministers of recognized religions

• Voluntary:

›Flanders : oldcomers & Europeans, …

›Brussels : everybody: new- & oldcomers

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Reaching the target group in Brussels

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Programme

• Reception & Intake• Social Orientation Course

= introductory course / civic orientation• Elementary Dutch language course• Individual guidance• Career orientation• Social participation

The programme is fully free of charge

Reception desk

• In co-operation with the House of Dutch

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Intake• Introduction to bon’s

programme• Enrollment of the candidate• Test ‘Covaar’ (cognitive

skills) at the House of Dutch• Definition of candidate’s

path at bon on the basis of:- language- level of education- result of the‘Covaar’ test

• Signing the contract

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Social Orientation

• Interactive course given in a contact language

• CLIMO – method (based on scanned needs / active participation/ debate)

• Correct information on: Belgium, Flanders, Brussels: history, structures,

rights, duties, values, norms living / working / health care &

social security• To measure (he/me/le/alfa)• Main goal: acquiring skills

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Elementary Dutch course 1.1.

• To measure (duration varies)

• In collaboration withadult education

facilitiesadult basic education

facilitiesmust be recognised by

Ministry of Education

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Individual Guidance

• Individual guidance during the entire programme

• Empowerment = key• Integrated Objectives

Framework: acquiring skills

• Practical help with: social services, day care, immigration procedures…

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Career Orientation

• Help in choosing a profession or finding vocational training by means of structured interviews

• In co-operation with employment & vocational training partners: Tracé Brussel, Actiris and VDAB

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Career Orientation

3 perspectives

1. Professional perspective2. Educational perspective3. Social-cultural perspective

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Social Participation

• Socio-cultural activities in Brussels

• Encouragement of active participation

• Volunteer work• According to participant’s

needs and interests

Since Jan. 2013 bon is recognised as an official partner in the Brussels region for all jobseekers

Information towards professionals/ partners

Information towards clients following up of the introduction of the

procedure & equalization of diplomas

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Diploma recognition

• Brussels Region officially bilingual

• Education = Community authority► 2 procedures possible

1) Naric – Flemish speaking Community -> Equivalence service diplomas 2) CFBW – French speaking Community

• 2 different procedures• 2 different outcomes possible

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Diploma recognition

2 different procedures = confusion

• Automatic recognition of qualifications is a tendency for Europeans, but not a reality, comparable to newcomers.

• Theory & practice are not the same

• Recognition by employers of practical professional skills, more fluent, but knowledge of language remains an issue

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Diploma recognition

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Figures Inburgering

• 20.000 newcomers/year in Flanders• +/- same figure in Brussels Region • 8 Welcome offices in 5 Flemish

provinces / 3 cities: Antwerp, Ghent & Brussels

• yearly budget for inburgering in Flanders & Brussels: 32-36 million €

Figures bon 2013

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• Intake: - 11 intake & recruitment employees - 3434 immigrants of 138 nationalities

• Social orientation: - 15 teachers- 18 languages

• Guidance: - 24 individual counsellors - 2297 immigrants

Impact of Inburgering

• Study by HIVA / KUL University of Leuven: analysis of cohort 2005 & 2007

• Oldcomers are included since 2007 • Compulsory reaches 90% of target audience.

Voluntary reaches 60%• Flexible programme for working people needed• Inburgeraars very positive about programme• Positive impact on access to labour market• Language level: to weak• Need for better co-operation with partners

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Partners

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Thank you for your attention!

Eric De Jonge

bon vzwToekomststraat 35, 1080 St Jans Molenbeek / Brussel

eric.de.jonge@bon.be

www.bon.be