Inburgering Flemish policy / Flanders / Belgium Good practises in Brussels
Jan 12, 2016
Inburgering Flemish policy / Flanders / BelgiumGood practises in Brussels
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Eric De Jonge
General Director of bon
bon is the Brussels Welcome Office4 local offices and 92 multilingual employees
bon is financed by the Flemish community policy of inburgering
Belgium: a very brief reminder
• 1 federal state• 3 communities : Flemish, French,
German• 3 regions : Flanders,
Wallonia & Brussels• Different governments, different policies
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Inburgering = Civic Integration
• «an interactive process through which the government provides immigrants with a specific programme to help them increase their self-reliance on the one hand, and on the other hand to encourage society to recognise them as fully-fledged citizens, with the aim of achieving full, active participation and shared citizenship as well as sufficient social coherence. »
• active since 1st april 2004
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Target audience
• Adult newcomers and “old comers” Foreign nationality or Belgian
nationals born abroad Registered with
a Brussels municipality Residence status with
a prospect of long-term residence • Minor newcomers
Compulsory vs Voluntary
• Compulsory: only in Flanders Newcomers (< 1 year in Belgium) & Ministers of recognized religions
• Voluntary:
›Flanders : oldcomers & Europeans, …
›Brussels : everybody: new- & oldcomers
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Reaching the target group in Brussels
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Programme
• Reception & Intake• Social Orientation Course
= introductory course / civic orientation• Elementary Dutch language course• Individual guidance• Career orientation• Social participation
The programme is fully free of charge
Reception desk
• In co-operation with the House of Dutch
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Intake• Introduction to bon’s
programme• Enrollment of the candidate• Test ‘Covaar’ (cognitive
skills) at the House of Dutch• Definition of candidate’s
path at bon on the basis of:- language- level of education- result of the‘Covaar’ test
• Signing the contract
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Social Orientation
• Interactive course given in a contact language
• CLIMO – method (based on scanned needs / active participation/ debate)
• Correct information on: Belgium, Flanders, Brussels: history, structures,
rights, duties, values, norms living / working / health care &
social security• To measure (he/me/le/alfa)• Main goal: acquiring skills
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Elementary Dutch course 1.1.
• To measure (duration varies)
• In collaboration withadult education
facilitiesadult basic education
facilitiesmust be recognised by
Ministry of Education
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Individual Guidance
• Individual guidance during the entire programme
• Empowerment = key• Integrated Objectives
Framework: acquiring skills
• Practical help with: social services, day care, immigration procedures…
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Career Orientation
• Help in choosing a profession or finding vocational training by means of structured interviews
• In co-operation with employment & vocational training partners: Tracé Brussel, Actiris and VDAB
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Career Orientation
3 perspectives
1. Professional perspective2. Educational perspective3. Social-cultural perspective
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Social Participation
• Socio-cultural activities in Brussels
• Encouragement of active participation
• Volunteer work• According to participant’s
needs and interests
Since Jan. 2013 bon is recognised as an official partner in the Brussels region for all jobseekers
Information towards professionals/ partners
Information towards clients following up of the introduction of the
procedure & equalization of diplomas
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Diploma recognition
• Brussels Region officially bilingual
• Education = Community authority► 2 procedures possible
1) Naric – Flemish speaking Community -> Equivalence service diplomas 2) CFBW – French speaking Community
• 2 different procedures• 2 different outcomes possible
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Diploma recognition
2 different procedures = confusion
• Automatic recognition of qualifications is a tendency for Europeans, but not a reality, comparable to newcomers.
• Theory & practice are not the same
• Recognition by employers of practical professional skills, more fluent, but knowledge of language remains an issue
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Diploma recognition
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Figures Inburgering
• 20.000 newcomers/year in Flanders• +/- same figure in Brussels Region • 8 Welcome offices in 5 Flemish
provinces / 3 cities: Antwerp, Ghent & Brussels
• yearly budget for inburgering in Flanders & Brussels: 32-36 million €
Figures bon 2013
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• Intake: - 11 intake & recruitment employees - 3434 immigrants of 138 nationalities
• Social orientation: - 15 teachers- 18 languages
• Guidance: - 24 individual counsellors - 2297 immigrants
Impact of Inburgering
• Study by HIVA / KUL University of Leuven: analysis of cohort 2005 & 2007
• Oldcomers are included since 2007 • Compulsory reaches 90% of target audience.
Voluntary reaches 60%• Flexible programme for working people needed• Inburgeraars very positive about programme• Positive impact on access to labour market• Language level: to weak• Need for better co-operation with partners
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Partners
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Thank you for your attention!
Eric De Jonge
bon vzwToekomststraat 35, 1080 St Jans Molenbeek / Brussel
www.bon.be