Modules in Flanders a source for European Modules

Modules in Flanders: a source for European Modules Inge Hellemans Agency for Internal Affaires Flemish Autority

Belgium a brief reminder • 1 federal state • 3 communities : Flemish, French & German • 3 regions : Flanders, Wallonia & Brussels • Different policies by different authorities

Integration policy in Flanders - Inburgering (1 st phase of integration): = a categorial policy (mainly for newcomers) - Flemish Parliament Act on “Civic Integration” - Integratie (2 nd phase of integration): = mainly an inclusive policy, however, categorial when necessary - Flemish Parliament Act on Integration

Inburgering: a specific programme as a first step • Coordinated by welcome office • Consists of: - Training programme: › Elementary Dutch course › Social orientation course › Career orientation - Supported by programme counselling

Primary Integration Programme • The programme is laid down in: - an ’integration contract’ In 2009 14. 158 ‘integration contracts’ were signed • If the training programme was regularly attended (at least 80%): - an ‘integration certificate’

Overview Partners Arrival at the Welcome office municipality House of Dutch Integration contract Language providers VDAB Elementary Dutch course Social orientation Career orientation OCMW other Programme counselling Social participation Integration certificat Secondary integration programme Regular educational services

Compulsory or Voluntary? • No link with residence in Flanders/Belgium • Access to territory: competence of the federal government • Right for everyone, obligation for newcomers and ministers of recognised religions • no obligation for residents in the Brussels Capital region

Training Programme Dutch course: - Elementary course (A. 1. Breakthrough level) - 240 h, 180 h, 120 h or 90 h, depending on the case (slow learners / fast learners) Social orientation course: - Themes: Belgian state structure, education, mobility, health, … with broad attention to values and standards - Given in the mother tongue or contact language (13 languages) of the people integrating - 60 h Career orientation: - Guidance towards continuing education, work, participation in socio-cultural provision, volunteer work and other leisure activities - During a 20 hour course or through interviews

Programme counselling • Each person integrating is assigned a programme counsellor • empowerment • A contact language or the native language is used • Administrative follow-up • A confidential counsellor For example: contact and assistance with social services, day care, immigration procedures…

Social participation • Integration is not something you just do inside a classroom • Encouraging the persons integrating to: übuild up a social network, üto get to know their local town or community, üto practice their Dutch, üto sign up to become a member of a local association or sports club, üto take up voluntary work, …

Figures • • 28. 000 newcomers/year in Flanders 8 Welcome offices ( 5 Flemish provinces / 3 cities Antwerp, Ghent & Brussels) Yearly budget Flanders & Brussels: 25/27 million € 50 % men – 50 % women Average age: 33 years Main nationality clusters: former USSR & Eastern Europe, Morocco & Turkey, Sub-Saharan Africa Legal status: family migrant or asylum- seeker

Inburgering : a source of inspiration for module 1 ”Integration and language courses” Scope: • Inburgering = - an interactive process - a specific programme - to increase self-reliance - to encourage society to recognise migrants as fully-fledged citizens • Desired outcome: achieving full, active participation and shared citizenship of everyone as well as sufficient social coherence.

Inburgering : a source of inspiration for module 1 ” Integration and language courses” Use : • Inburgering is binding • A certificate is deliverd at participants • Inburgering is monitored as a management tool

Module 2: Commitment of the host society Providing standards for the opening up of mainstraim organisations Scope: • Inclusive integration policy in Flanders: • Every sector (education, work, culture, …) is responsable whether people with migrant backgrounds have the same access to the services on offer as the rest of the population. Objective: • Creating a society which has a positive attitude towards diversity.

Module 2: Commitment of the host society Providing standards for the opening up of mainstraim organisations” Use: The Integration policy in Flanders is transposed into 4 policy priorities Lines of action: 1. “Living together in diversity” 2. Accessibility 3. Support to the local integration policy 4. Participation and involvement

Module 3: Immigrants’ participation in all areas of collective life Setting standards for active citizenship Scope: • The “presence of different cultures in our society” is a fact. • To guarantee equal opportunities for all individuals and groups of the society. • Integration is a two-way-process • The ‘Integration Act’ emphasis the involvement of the target groups themselves when designing policy Objective: • Working to achieve a society where all people can live together, irrespective of their origins.

Module 3: Immigrants’ participation in all areas of collective life Setting standards for active citizenship Use: • “Interculturalisation” = the process in which all organizations gear their services to the presence of minorities in the society (structures, services, HRM, …) • Since 2000: a Forum of organisations of ethnic-cultural minorities - Task: promote communication with and involvement of target groups and their associates in Flemish integration policy. (13 federations – more than 1. 000 minority organisations ) • Local integration services must stimulate the participation especially of minorities on public life, discourse and decision making. • A new coordination and expertise centre (VLEMI) will be installed • The social translation- and interpretation services will receive a structural funding.

Inburgering: Evaluation and evidence based knowledge In the Parlementary Act on ‘Inburgering : every 3 year an evalution has to be presented at the Flemish Parliament – last report (april 2010) Some conclusions: • Inburgering ‘works’ : people with an “inburgering” certificat are more likely to find a job than people without an “inburgering” certificat • 90% of people integrating are satisfied with their programme • But effectivity has to improve : f. e. the level of language acquisition is too weak Recommendations: • Decreasing dropout during integration programme • Smooth flow to proper secondary integration programme • Need of flexible program for working people • Need of better collaboration between partners

SWOT of Inburgering • Strenghts • f. e. “inburgering” is a co-operation between several policy areas • Weaknesses • f. e. “inburgering” is only the first step • Opportunities • f. e. “inburgering” reaches the migrants as soon as possible • Threats • f. e. bureaucratization

Thank you for your attention ! Agentschap voor Binnenlands Bestuur www. inburgering. be inge. hellemans@bz. vlaanderen. be Tel: 00 32 2 553 33 19