1st STUDY VISIT Innsbruck, 27 – 29 March 2019 – ACTIVITY 2.2 Organisation of Study Visits and exchange meetings

  • MILE 

The first study visit of the project MILE took place in Innsbruck  from the 27 to the 29 of March and was organised by the partner Verein Multikulturell.

The visit gave all participants the opportunity to explore and get to know better the Austrian system on labour integration of migrants and foreign workers, thanks to organizations from both the public sector, institutions, private companies and social-led organizations. It was also an important moment to share best practices among public and private organisations at EU level, exchanging and disseminating information on various topics related to work integration of non-EU citizens, such as type of migration into the country, migrants’ skills assessment, training and job guidance services and methodologies.

On the first day, participants got to know ZeMiT “Centre for Migrants in Tyrol”, which offers confidential, independent, free and multilingual counselling to migrants, and their service AST, which provides free, multi-lingual information and counselling for the recognition of certifications acquired abroad. Participants then moved to WIFI (Wirtschaftsförderungsinstitut) – Institute for Economic Promotion of the Austrian Economic Chambers, for a presentation by the Tyrol Regional Office of the WKO Austrian Economic Chamber. WKO presented data and information on the labour market in Austria and introduced the “Mentoring for Migrants” programme aiming at integrate migrants into the labour market. Of particular interest was also the visit at one of the most large production centres of the company NOVARTIS, which offers attractive entry, training and development opportunities for apprentices to skilled workers. There, participants had the valuable occasion to hear first-hand stories of success from young refugees who received professional training and working experience at the company.

On the second day, the Austrian Public Employment Service AMS presented their programs for the inclusion of vulnerable individuals in the labour market. Also, Itworks, a social enterprise specialised in supporting the work integration of migrants, presented their services.

For the rest of the study visit, having collected many ideas, inputs and diverse approaches, participants evaluated methods and shared feedback via some transnational multi stakeholder working groups focusing on different topics in the area of integration of migrants in the labour market, and taking into account each partner country’s best practices and the ones presented during the study visits. Also, participants shared experiences in a specific session on migrants’ training for employment.

Overall, it has been not only a pleasure but also a great opportunity to get in touch and explore the Austrian reality regarding how migration, integration and labour is managed in the country. We look forward to continue investigating and researching these topics in such a valuable way and we thanks particularly Verein Multikulturell for their hospitality and the opportunities they provided!

Participants to the study visit were 23 experts coming from 7 countries, 8 partners, 7 associates and 3 other external stakeholders:

  • ICEI Institute of International Economic Cooperation (ITA)
  • AFOLMET Agency for the Training, Guidance and Employment of the Province of Milan (ITA)
  • EMIT (ITA)
  • AGCI (ITA) National Association of Italian Cooperatives – Region of Lombardy
  • MUNICIPALITY OF MILAN Directorate Urban Economy and Employment, Training and Employment Area, Labour Market Unit (ITA)
  • VEREIN MULTIKULTURELL (AT)
  • REGION OF TYROL (AT)
  • OTC OLYMPIC TRAINING & CONSULTING (GR)
  • HOU HELLENIC OPEN UNIVERSITY (GR)
  • COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION OF VARDA (GR)
  • MUNICIPALITY OF ATHENS Department for the support and social inclusion of Migrants and Refugees, Directorate of Social Solidarity & Health (GR)
  • ACH FOUNDATION ACTION AGAINST HUNGER (ESP)
  • FUTUR (ESP)
  • ACEDE Association of Executives, Directors and Businesspersons of Catalonia (ESP)
  • AMIGA ETT (ESP)
  • ALDA European Association for Local Democracy (FR)
  • HIGH COMMISSION FOR MIGRATION (PT)
  • SOUTHSIDE PARTNERSHIP (IE)
Discover more about the event! Download all the materials of the 1st Study Visit here!

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