September 2025: Right now, many in European politics and the popular media describe refugees as a crisis and call for better crisis management. Crisis management in this context too often simply means reducing the number of new arrivals and deporting as many as possible. The fact is, however, that most refugees and asylum seekers will remain in Europe, and that is not a bad thing.

 

Beyond the crisis narrative, European institutions are quietly investing in long-term integration strategies, emphasising education, teaching, training, and labour market inclusion as pillars of community cohesion.

 

In the coming weeks and months, The Immigrant Times will report on what Europe as a union and individual states are doing to provide refugees and immigrants with the knowledge and skills that will allow them to integrate successfully into the labour market and their local communities.

 

The European Union (EU)

Since 2016, the European Commission, the EU’s executive, has played a pivotal role in supporting member states to integrate refugees and immigrants into national education and teaching and learning systems. While education and training remain a national responsibility, the EU provides essential scaffolding through funding, guidance, and cross-border collaboration to ensure inclusive access to learning opportunities.

 

The EU provides teaching and training to refugees and immigrants by fostering their integration into education and labour markets, offering language courses, supporting vocational training, recognising skills, and funding initiatives like the School Education Gateway and eTwinning platform for information exchange. Specific projects also focus on health-related training for professionals and facilitate access for researchers and Ukrainian refugees to training programmes and the EU job market.

​

​

Strategic initiatives

SIRIUS

The EU supports the SIRIUS network, which brings together experts to improve the education of immigrant and refugee children and young people.

 

Erasmus and eTwinning

Programmes like Erasmus+ provide online resources, courses, and communities (eTwinning) for educators to share information and materials on inclusive classrooms and cultural diversity.

 

Targeted Support

Projects offer specialised support for integration, such as job-specific language courses, job-shadowing opportunities, and childcare, particularly for refugees from conflicts like the war in Ukraine.

 

​

Matching skills with labour market needs

Skill recognition

The EU supports the recognition and validation of immigrants’ skills and qualifications, facilitating their entry into the labour market.

 

Talent partnerships

These partnerships aim to match job offers and demands in partner countries, support higher education, and facilitate fair recruitment and labour mobility into the EU. The EU established talent partnerships with Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

 

EU Talent Pool

This pilot project allows Ukrainians fleeing the war to create a CV and connect with employers, thus promoting their entry into the EU job market.

​

​

Support for specific groups

Displaced researchers

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) provide funding and support for researchers who have had their careers interrupted, including those with refugee status, to resume their work in Europe.

 

Health

The MIG- H Training Project provides training modules for health and law enforcement professionals to address the health challenges of migrants and refugees, including mental health issues and communicable diseases.

​

​

Resources

EU funds

Various EU funds and programmes, such as Erasmus+ and national programmes in member states, provide funding for projects aimed at integrating refugees and immigrants through education and training.

​

​

Information Exchange

Platforms like the School Education Gateway serve as hubs for practitioners to exchange information, share best practices, and access online courses on immigrant integration.

​

​

COUNTRY REPORTS

Starting by describing the teaching and training initiatives provided by Germany, Sweden, Spain and Italy for refugees and immigrants, The Immigrant Times publishes a series of reports covering all major European countries.

 

Teaching and training for refugees in Germany

Germany offers extensive training and education programmes for refugees to aid their integration into the labour market and society. Federal and state governments run the initiatives. Other providers are non-profit organisations and private companies. However, significant challenges remain, particularly with language and recognition of prior qualifications. REPORT

 

Teaching and training for refugees in Sweden

In Sweden, teaching and training for refugees is primarily provided through the government-coordinated Establishment Programme, which combines Swedish language lessons with vocational training and employment services. While asylum seekers have more limited access to formal education, various organisations offer voluntary training during the waiting period for a residence permit. REPORT

 

Teaching and training for refugees in Spain

In Spain, refugees and asylum seekers can access teaching and training through government-funded programmes, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), partnerships with the private sector, and specific university initiatives. A key component of these programmes is Spanish language teaching, which is provided alongside courses for vocational skills, professional certification, and higher education to boost employability and integration. REPORT

​

Teaching and training for refugees in Italy

In Italy, the education and training of refugees is a collaborative effort between the state, which guarantees the right to education, and a wide network of non-governmental organisations and associations that provide essential on-the-ground support. This article explores the dual roles of the Italian government and civil society in fostering the integration of refugees through education and training. REPORT

​

​

‘Teaching and Training Refugees’ is part of The Immigrant Times’ open research project. You are invited to contribute, correct and comment. Email

 

Further reading: Teaching and training refugees in Europe || Teaching and training refugees in Germany || Teaching and training refugees in Sweden || Teaching and training refugees in Spain || Teaching and training refugees in Italy || Apprnteship places in Germany ||

​​

BACK TO TOP

​​

COMMENT

Praise. Criticise. Write.

​

FOLLOW

Instagram || TikTok || X(Twitter) || Thread || Facebook || BlueSky || Mastodon || LinkedIn ||

​​​