inburgering flemish policy / flanders / belgium good practises in brussels

Inburgering Flemish policy / Flanders / BelgiumGood practises in Brussels

- 2 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

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


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



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


Reaching the target group in Brussels



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


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



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


Elementary Dutch course 1.1.

• To measure (duration varies)

• In collaboration withadult education

facilitiesadult basic education

facilitiesmust be recognised by

Ministry of Education


Individual Guidance

• Individual guidance during the entire programme

• Empowerment = key• Integrated Objectives

Framework: acquiring skills

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


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


Career Orientation

3 perspectives

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


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


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


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


Diploma recognition


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


• 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



Partners


Thank you for your attention!

Eric De Jonge

bon vzwToekomststraat 35, 1080 St Jans Molenbeek / Brussel

[email protected]

www.bon.be

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.bon.be/

inburgering flemish policy / flanders / belgium good practises in brussels

Documents

multilingual employees

beeld koptekst en

kan je

flanders newcomers

ministry of education

civic integration

house of dutchdefinition

oldcomers europeans