In a public lecture at Central European University (CEU) on May 5, International Organization of Migration (IOM) research consultant and Department of Public Policy (DPP) alumnus Alin Chindea (MA 2006) presented the findings of the HEADSTART: Fostering Integration Before Departure project. This far-reaching project is co-financed by the European Union Integration Fund, Italy, Austria, and the Netherlands; and managed by the IOM office in Budapest in partnership with the World Association of Public Employment Services (WAPES) and integration authorities in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Slovakia.
In his introductory remarks, Associate Professor Martin Kahanec noted that the topic of immigration often generates “heated debate.” He went on to explain that efforts to facilitate the integration process of migrants could help to ease some of the tensions surrounding this contentious issue. One of the more promising efforts is the introduction of pre-departure integration support measures (PDISM), services that are provided in migrants’ countries of origin to support the integration of migrants in their countries of destination.
Chindea said that it was important to distinguish between PDISM and pre-departure integration requirements that are imposed by some countries such as Austria, Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
The IOM project includes a review of global approaches and practices related to pre-departure integration support in countries of origin, and a practitioner’s handbook for Migrant Resource Centres. The handbooks will include information about standard operating procedures, design, institutional set-up, training, competences, data collection, and evaluation. The HEADSTART project will conclude with a conference in Vienna later this month that will focus on two areas that are especially important to PDISM services: job matching and innovative labor market integration practices and approaches; and skills development (language, soft skills, etc.).
In his remarks, Dr. Rainer Münz, SPP Visiting Professor, suggested that it might be interesting to explore why PDISM services are offered in some countries, but not in others. He observed also that tackling this issue at the EU level instead of at the national level might bear fruit. Antonio Graziosi, International Labour Organization (ILO) director, also commented on Chindea’s presentation. He observed that many of the issues that affect migrants affect all workers. He noted also that there were still a lot of unanswered questions related to sustainability as well as the long-term impact of PDISM services.
During the debate after the formal presentations, it was clear that there was broad agreement that although pre-departure measures are an important policy tool that can ease immigrant integration, pre-departure measures are most effective when they are complemented by transition and post-arrival integration efforts.