Implementing the area of activity of vocational integration
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees supports the following activities in relation to "recognising foreign qualifications":
- service units for adopting foreign qualifications
- study on "Recognising foreign qualifications in Saxony – an analysis of the situation and needs"
- skills assessments
- information brochures.
Service units for adopting foreign qualifications
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) is currently trialling service units for adopting foreign qualifications in two locations in Germany. One is in Munich (until December 2011) and the other in Saarland (until June 2011). The aim of the pilot projects is to create more transparency in recognising qualifications. To achieve this, the service units are providing advice on the recognition process and, more broadly, on vocational integration for migrants with foreign qualifications. In addition, the BAMF is networking with stakeholders who play an important role in the area of recognition. These include, for example:
- employment agencies and basic welfare services (employment agencies, ARGE and job centres).
- recognition offices
- education providers
- immigrant advisory offices.
ANSA Study
The study "Recognising foreign qualifications in Saxony – an analysis of the situation and needs" has been funded by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and the Ministry of Social Affairs of Saxony. The EXIS Europa e. V. association in Dresden implemented the study with the aim of systematically recording needs in the area of advice – not only from those seeking advice in the recognition process but also from institutions concerned with issues surrounding the recognition of qualifications. In this way, the association is looking to investigate the need for new advisory structures to be created.
Skills assessments
In order to obtain an overview of the nature of the programmes offered in the area of skills assessment, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has been involved with classification of the skills assessment processes and the regional breakdown of these.
Information brochures
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees published or is currently drawing up profession-specific information brochures to advise engineers, doctors and teachers about the recognition process.
