Inge HellemansAgency for Internal AffairesFlemish Autority

Introductory and Language courses : in Flanders a multi-level governance issue

Belgium : a brief reminder

• 1 federal state• 3 communities : Flemish, French & German• 3 regions : Flanders, Wallonia & Brussels

• Different policies by different authorities

• “Integration” is a competence on regional level.

Integration policy in Flanders

- Inburgering (1st phase of integration): = a categorial policy (mainly for newcomers)

- Flemish Parliament Act on Civic Integration- Integratie (2nd phase of integration):

= mainly an inclusive policy, however, categorial when necessary - Flemish Parliament Act on Integration

Introductory and Language courses Inburgering:

a specific programme as a first step• Coordinated by welcome office• Consists of:

- Training programme:› Elementary Dutch course› Social orientation course› Career orientation

- Supported by programme counselling- Social participation

Introductory and Language courses :training programme

Dutch course:- Elementary course (A.1. Breakthrough level)- 240 h, 180 h, 120 h or 90 h, depending on the

case

Introductory and Language courses :training programme

Career orientation:- From the perspective of the person integrating:

professional, educational or socio-cultural- Guidance towards continuing education, work,

participation in socio-cultural provision, volunteer work and other leisure activities

- Basis: experience and qualifications (such as diplomas)

- Guidance towards work- During a 20 hour course or through interviews

Introductory and Language courses :training programme

Social orientation course:- Introduction to Flemish society- Themes: Belgian state structure, education,

mobility, health,…- Broad attention to values and standards- Given in the mother tongue of the people

integrating- 60 h

Integration is not something you just do in a classroom

Social participation: Encouraging the persons integrating to:

build up a social network, to get to know their local town or community, to practice their Dutch, to sign up to become a member of a local association or sports club, to take up voluntary work,…

f.e. project “Samen Inburgeren”www.sameninburgeren.be(coaching on voluntary basis)

Inburgering: one-stop-shop ?

• First line activities• “One-stop shop”

- for ‘service’, not for ‘documents’

• Data of people integrating are entered into central database (a Cross Roads Bank)

Inburgering = multi-level partnership

• Municipalities› Informing newcomers

• Welcome offices› Establishing initial contact with people integrating

› Providing assistance› Organising social orientation courses

Inburgering = multi-level partnership

• ‘Dutch Language Houses’› Guiding people towards the most suitable Dutch provision

• Dutch language providers› Dutch language courses are provided by adult basic education centres, adult education centres and university language centres

Inburgering = multi-level partnership

• Flemish Service for Employment and Vocational Training (VDAB)

› Career orientation courses› Assist people integrating to find a job

• OCMW (Openbaar Centrum voor Maatschappelijk Welzijn) (Public Centre for Social Welfare)

› Guiding people towards ‘Inburgering’ if necessary

Arrival at the Welcome

office

Integration contract

Elementary Dutch course

Social orientation

Career orientation

Integration certificat

Secondary integration programme

municipality

House of Dutch

Language providers

VDAB

OCMW

other

Regular educational

services

Overview

Programme counselling

Partners

Social participation

Multi-level partnershipAuthorities Involved

• Federal authorities:- Competent for access to territory

• Flemish authorities:- Competent for integration policy- Legislative and executive role- Subsidises the institutions concerned

• Local authorities - Informing newcomers

Multi-level partnershipAuthorities Involved

Flemish authorities – policy areas involved:

• Internal Affairs• Education• Work

Inburgering = multi-level partership

• 8 welcome offices + 8 ‘Dutch Language Houses’ + VDAB• Areas of activity:

- One welcome office in each of the five Flemish provinces

- One welcome office in cities of Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels

Implementation of Inburgering by welcome offices

Structures of welcome offices:• 6 non-profit organisations• 1 urban service (Antwerp)• 1 belong to a provincial authority

No (legal) role for the private sector

Figures on welcome offices Inburgering

2009 2010 2011 2012

Total of integration contracts in Flanders and Brussels

14.158 18.608 20.824

Budget for the 8 welcome offices

28,2 mil 24,4 mil 27,3 mil 29 mil

Case Antwerp – urban service

• The ‘Atlas-building’ : one-stop-shop

Case Antwerp

• Different services together in one building:- Welcome office Antwerp- Huis van het Nederlands (the Dutch Language House Antwerp)- Servicepoint volunteers- Servicepoint associations- Secretariat of the ‘neighbourhood’- Documentation centre- Polyvalent meeting place

Integration is not something

you just do in a classroom

Integration: horizontal and inclusive policy

• Focus on the entire society, with special attention to the targetgroup (1st and 2nd generation + social deprivation factors)

• 3 main goalsParticipation,Accesibility of organisations and services,Sociale cohesion.

• Importance of local authorities

Local integration policy

• Financing (granting of a subsidy) of local authorities willing to implement a proactive integration policy

• Financing based on:Request of the local authority (no obligation),Conditions: minimal presence of the target group +

problems of social deprivationAgreement between the Flemish authority and the local

authority (goals, actions, indicators)

→ current situation: 46 local authorities have an agreement

Thank you for your attention !

Inge.hellemans @ bz.vlaanderen.beTel: 00 32 2 553 33 19

www . Inburgering . be