Print version Recommend this page Press release
39/ 2004
Bonn, 04.11.2004
Recognising potentials, promoting abilities, using resources
- BIBB research project surveys specific skills of migrants -
Young people and adults from migratory backgrounds have acquired special skills "along the way" in the context of their life histories. But multilingualism and knowledge of another culture are only rarely assessed as an advantage when hiring trainees or skilled workers. The migratory background of the applicants is usually considered as professionally unimportant, although native language competence and intercultural skills could be utilised for example in international relations fields of work, in dealing with foreign customers or even in developing new business areas. In fact, the migratory background is commonly viewed as rather a disadvantage. One reason for this view: Until now there have been no differentiated insights about the specific competence that young people and adults of foreign origin possess and how this potential can be utilised by the companies in a targeted and profitable manner.
The research project "Intercultural skills of young professionals from migratory backgrounds: Description and occupational advantages" carried out by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) therefore tries to answer the question of whether skilled workers from migratory backgrounds recognise and offer their existing intercultural skills as special qualifications and how companies can use and further promote these skills for specific working procedures. Four occupations are surveyed in this project: "wholesale and foreign trade clerk", "forwarding agent", "retail salesperson" and "physician's assistant". Approximately 15 % of all trainees of foreign origin are trained in these occupations.
Among the goals of the project are:
- exactly describing those intercultural skills possessed by young professionals from migratory backgrounds which they actually use in their professional activities,
- naming those personal, school and company factors which promote the development and professional utilisation of intercultural skills,
- finding out whether companies recognise and, if possible, use the existing potential and determining the working conditions under which this happens and the entrepreneurial goals this is connected to.
The results of the research project are meant to be used, for example, as foundations for recommendations regarding the targeted promotion of skills of people from migratory backgrounds in initial and continuing vocational education and training and for other measures contributing to an adequate professional appreciation of these skills.
The Vocational Qualification Networks for Migrants (BQN), which are scientifically accompanied by the Initiative for Vocational Qualification of Migrants (IBQM) at the BIBB, can directly benefit from the project results. These local and regional BQNs are supported with funds from the "Promoting skills - Vocational qualification of target groups in need of special support" Programme (BQF Programme) of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. In the central field of action "transition school - training - occupation" they pay attention to the promotion and recognition of language and cultural skills of young people from migratory backgrounds.
You can get more information about the BIBB project "Intercultural skills of young professionals from migratory backgrounds: Description and occupational advantages" from the BIBB, care of Anke Settelmeyer (Tel: 0228/107-1202; e-mail: Settelmeyer@bibb.de )
Further information on the topic "professionals from migratory backgrounds" can be found on the Internet using the knowledge map of the "Communication and Information System for Vocational Education and Training (KIBB)" at www.kibb.de/cps/rde/xchg/SID-2BAB107B-85831C64/kibb/hs.xsl/wlk8601.htm
