Migration. Chances and challenges

Objectives

The objectives of the course are to raise awareness among teachers, educational managers and consultants for migration as a global phenomenon in all countries of the world. In times of demographic changes and shortage of skilled labor – it becomes increasingly urgent to integrate migrants into educational and professional systems and recognize their professional potential and skills. Too often the systems fail to support them, recognize their qualifications in the host country and to advance their potential. Participants will learn about the challenges concerning immigration and integration for the educational and professional systems and about chances and opportunities that migration offers. The significance of inter cultural competences as an important key competence. Experiences of co-operations with migrant organizations/communities will be presented and a migrant centre will be visited.

Methodology

Theoretical contributions, individual and group-work, discussions in plenary, games, practical exercises, short presentations and study visits.

Day 1
Arrival. Getting together, an introduction of the course program and a group dinner.

Day 2
Warm up-creating a trustfully work environment. Introduction to the topic of migration. Migration movements in Europe and especially in Germany / Ruhr-area. Migration politics in the EU. Dealing with migration. Challenges and opportunities for educational and vocational systems. National integrations strategies in Germany.

Walking sightseeing tour in Dortmund.

Day 3
Feeling strange in a new country. About Xenophobia and Discrimination. Opportunities of migration. Change of perspectives. Positive resource orientated aspects of diversity. Practical ways and methods to overcome barriers and achieve better integration of the target group in educational and occupational systems. Good Practice.

Visit to the former Gestapo prison “Mahn- und Gedenkstätte Steinwache Dortmund”.

Day 4
Inclusive teaching methods-an overview. Importance of intercultural competences of educational staff. Exercises. Political role of migrant organizations in relation to integration.

Visit to the migrant umbrella organization VMDO in Dortmund.

Day 5
Problems and barriers especially for low-skilled migrants in accessing educational centers and educational opportunities. Ways and methods to reach migrants and their potential. Intercultural opening of adult educational institutions. Participants create a plan for their organizations on reaching migrants and involve their experience and knowledge into their organizations aims. Group work to create a strategy for the achievement and participation of migrants in adult education.

In the afternoon: Visit to the multicultural city of Cologne.

Day 6
Presentation of the results of the group work. How to implement the new ideas and methods back home? Course Evaluation.

Day 7 Departure.