Tiziana Caponio and Monica Qurico Fieri

1. The local implementation of introduction/integration courses.Municipal answers to national policies? Tiziana Caponio and Monica Qurico Fieri

2. Goals of the study • To explore the views of local stakeholders on the nexus between integration and admission/permanent residence • To provide a thorough mapping of integration compulsory and voluntary courses carried out at a local level, with details on the targeted group/s, funding and implementing agencies, types of programmes (just language, language and culture, vocational training etc.) and other relevant features (final exam, legal certification etc.) • To provide an assessment of the perceived impact of these courses on the integration trajectories of the immigrants concerned

3. Methodology • Case studies, at least 1-2 cities/regions for each country • Selected cases maximise difference in terms of immigrant resident groups and local economic structures • What is the rationale behind the local implementation of integration programmes? Is implementation adapted to the specific necessities emerging at a local level? To what extent and in which ways? • Various research techniques • Desk-research: analysis of the literature and of cities’ official documents • In depth interviews to key informants, implementers and beneficiaries

4. Reports • Already drafted • Sweden: Malmoe and Almhult • Germany : Stuttgart • Italy: Turin • Switzerland: Geneva • Czech Republic: Pardubice • To be drafted • Austria: Vienna and Innsbruck • The Netherlands: Enschede • Italy: Aosta Valley • Switzerland: Zurich • Spain: Barcelona • UK: London (two districts)

5. The contexts • Pardubice • Regional capital city, among the few ones in the Czech Republic active in the country on immigrants integration • Industrial city • Malmoe • Third city in Sweden, economically in transition (from shipping industry to new economy) • Characterised by the highest ratio of immigrant residents on the local population (30% in 2010) • Almulth • 15,000 inhabitants, located in the South of Sweden. • Ikea city: Ikea is a key actor in promoting the integration of their foreign workers • Turin • Third city in Italy, economically in transition (from industry to new economy) • First immigrant community: Rumanians • Geneva • Capital of the French-speaking area of Switzerland, crucial relevance of the tertiary sector and services • Stuttgart • Capital of Baden-Württemberg • Major location for businesses in the automotive industry

6. Local integration frames- Preliminary results - • A considerable degree of consistency between national policy approaches and local integration policy frames is reported, even though with some remarkable exceptions • Stuttgart • Pioneer city in Germany with respect to integration policies (top-down and comprehensive approach) • Geneva and Turin • Both cities are reported as having a more open stance towards immigrants’ integration when compared with the cantonal/national governments • Local leftwing majorities seem to make a difference (especially vis-à-vis national rightwing governments)

7. Local offer of integration courses- preliminary results - • National integration programmes are in place only in: • Stuttgart • Financed and coordinated by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), implemented by private and public organisations such as welfare organisations (Caritas, Awo), education centres, private language institutes etc. • Target groups: newly arrived TNC and ethnic Germans; old residents in the categories specified by the law • Malmoe and Almulth • Compulsory Integration Plan for refugees and other persons with protection status (recipients of the Introduction Allowance) • The municipalities are free to extend participation to Swedish for Immigrants courses also to other categories as long as they have not resided in Sweden longer than 36 months: • Both cities have extended this possibility to all immigrants (EU included) • Courses are implemented both by public agencies and no profit organisations

8. Local offer of integration courses- preliminary results - • In most of the cities considered, a plurality of voluntary integration courses has been reported • Turin • Public courses for regular foreign residents (not just newly arrived) • NGOs courses focus on newly arrived (irregular immigrants included) • Geneva • Local, national and international NGOs coordinated by the BIE (Bureau de l’intégration des étrangers) and funded either by the Confederation or the Canton • Opened to all immigrants • Pardubice • Courses provided by NGOs and by the local branch of the governmental Centre for Supporting Immigrants’ Integration, and financed with public funds, only for TNC • Stuttgart • Specific integration courses offered by the Municipality (conversation courses, basic German courses, “Mum is learning”) opened to both old and newcomers (EU included) • Malmoe • The Municipality’s Education Administration offers Sfi-classes of the “not-newly arrived” immigrants (i.e. registered for more than 36 months in Sweden)

9. Local offer of integration courses- preliminary results - • Contents of the courses • A combination of language and introduction (essentially civic integration) is prevalent • In Malmoe and Almulth the Integration Plan provides also labour market related activities (internships, information courses etc.) • In Stuttgart, ‘Mum leans German’ courses are more centred on everyday matters for mothers: school issues, social services etc.

10. Perceived impact • In general, interviewed partners consider integration courses as having a positive impact on immigrants’ integration trajectories • Yet, there are some caveats • Pardubice • The need of extending courses to EU nationals is emphasised (Rumanians, Bulgarians) • Immigrants participation is reported as being low • Malmoe • Risk of a stigmatizing effect for those immigrants enrolled in SFI courses • Importance of stressing the link between language and professional training • Turin • Low participation rates • Lack of resources to provide a more differentiated offer (e.g. language and professional training courses)

11. In the end… • Two types of local implementation networks can be pointed out • A top-down implementation network • A central role is played by the Municipality/regional authority, that is not only responsible for funding but also for coordinating the organisations charged with delivery • The courses’ offer is determined at “the top”, NGOs and other agencies just participate in provision • Malmoe, Almulth, Pardubice and Stuttgart • A bottom-up implementation network • The municipality is just one actor among others; independent NGOs often undertake their autonomous initiatives catering to those immigrants who are considered to be more in need • Turin (NGOs dealing also with irregular immigrants) and Geneva • The courses’ offer is open and more dependent on initiatives from “below” (specialisation on marginalisation)

12. Thank you for your attention! tiziana.caponio@fieri.it tiziana.caponio@unito.it monica.quirico@unito.it