Research area Integration policy

Ongoing research projects

On the Move - The reality of free movement for young European citizens migrating in times of crisis

This project aims to know more about the barriers that interfere with the full enjoyment of the right to free movement. It addresses the reality of free movement from the viewpoint of young European citizens (age 25-35) who exercise or plan to exercise their right. What are the drivers and barriers of free movement face by young people?

The study analyses micro-census data and indicators from other sources on structural integration of migrants in Bavaria in the period of 2005-2013. Data on migration to and out of Bavaria for the same period are added to the analysis. A second focus of the study is research on the development of integration policy structures in Bavarian cities.

Funding: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Arbeit und Soziales, Familie und Integration
Project duration: August 2015 - December 2017
Researcher:  Friedrich Heckmann, Daniel Göler

Diversity monitor

The efms was commissioned by the Bertelsmann Foundation to develop a methodology to monitor diversity in Germany. The Diversity Monitor aims to establish a concept to measure the approach to ethnic and religious diversity in Germany. In order to do so, central areas of concern (dimensions) are identified which can be operationalized by means of selected quantitative and qualitative indices.

Completed projects

Development of an integration concept for the City of Kelsterbach

The City of Kelsterbach has mandated the efms to guide a process of developing a community integration concept. The concept will be elaborated in a participative approach, directly incorporating those actors who are relevant for its implementation: the city administration, sponsors of integration projects, associations and clubs, welfare organizations, migrant organizations, educational institutions, religious communities, as well as all interested individuals.

SIRIUS (European Policy Network on the education of children and young people with a migrant background) is a Europe-wide network of scientists, policymakers and practitioners for the exchange of knowledge, experience and good-practice on the education of children with a migrant background.

The efms is the National Coordinator for Germany and Co-leader of Work Package 1 on policy implementation and networking.

Scientific monitoring of the programme "Model Regions of Integration" of the Hessian Ministry of Justice, for Integration and Europe

The efms was commissioned by the Hessian Ministry of Justice, for Integration and Europe to carry out the scientific monitoring and evaluation of the programme "Model Regions of Integration". In doing this, the efms will support the model regions in conducting structural changes of their integration work and integration policy, and will evaluate individual projects as well as the general programme.

Science-Society Dialogues on Migrant Integration in Europe (DIAMINT)

The international comparative project Science-Society Dialogues on Migrant Integration in Europe (DIAMINT) assesses how research-policy dialogues on immigrant integration have developed into much more complex science-society dialogues over recent decades. An in-depth analysis of these processes is provided in a number of European countries (Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) as well as on the EU level.

Since November 2012 efms has carried out a concept study on facilitating the transition of foreign graduates of Bavarian Universities from studies to professions within the frame of the initiative "Study and Stay in Bavaria".

In order to increase the population's openness towards migration and integration, AMICALL establishes a transnational learning network which will identify, share and disseminate knowledge, experience and good practices among Europe's local and regional authorities (LRAs).

Being one out of six project partners, further partners being research institutes in Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, the efms coordinates and implements the project's activities in Germany.

Publications:
Krobisch, Verena; Wiest, Delia: Country background paper - Germany, Bamberg 2011
Krobisch, Verena; Wiest, Delia:: Country research paper - Germany , Bamberg 2011

The efms was elaborating an integration concept for a peaceful communal life of residents with and without a migration background in the city of Dietzenbach. The concept was developed in the course of a participative process involving relevant local actors and was based on a profound analysis by the efms on the current situation in the city.

The objective of the project PROSINT, covering nine European partner institutions was precisely to explore the rationale for adopting specific integration measures that target newcomers from third countries as well as the expected impact of such measures on migration patterns and integration processes of newcomers.

Publication:
Scholten, P.W.A. et al.: Integration from abroad? Perception and impacts of pre-entry tests for third-country nationals. PROSINT Comparative Reports WP4, Vienna 2012
Lechner, Claudia et al.: Study on the impacts of admission policies and admission related integration policies. PROSINT Comparative Reports WP5, Vienna 2012

The network of Cities for Local Integration Policies (CLIP) brought together 30 European cities in a joint learning process for discussing and evaluating municipal integration policy. In their peer review process, the cities were supported by a group of expert European research centres coordinated by the efms.

Publications of the CLIP-project

The efms was elaborating an integration concept for the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd with regard to residents with migration background. The initial point of the concept development constituted a profound analysis of the efms on the current integration situation in the city. Subsequently, the elaboration of the concept emerged through a participative process with the involvement of the relevant actors on the spot.

Publications:
efms: Miteinander in Schwäbisch Gmünd. Grundlagen des städtischen Integrationskonzepts. Bamberg 2008
Halisch, Judith; Lüken-Klaßen, Doris: Integrationsbericht Schwäbisch Gmünd. Bamberg 2008
Stadt Schwäbisch Gmünd (ed.): Miteinander in Schwäbisch Gmünd. Integrationskonzept, Schwäbisch Gmünd 2009

Together with the Centre for Adult Education Nuremberg the efms carried out the educational measure "Model project integration courses" on the integration of migrants from April 2001 until December 2003. It was the objective of the project to develop integration courses conceptionally, to test and to evaluate them.

Integration offers in selected Hessian districts and their institutional implementation

In the context of compiling an integration report, the Hessian Ministry for Social Affairs commissioned the efms to conduct an empirical study of the development and implementation of integration measures at local level in eleven Hessian districts. In the empirical work, which was completed within only three months, in particular the conception and coordination of integration measures at local level were examined and compiled into a documentation of the different integration measures.

Publication: Bosswick, Wolfgang / Will, Gisela: Integrationsangebote in ausgewählten hessischen Kommunen und ihre institutionelle Umsetzung. Wiesbaden 2002

The efms was commissioned at the beginning of 2001 by the Independent Commission "Immigration" of the Federal Government to provide an overview on number and quality of the numerous offers and services by charitable organisations in the field of integration. The study also included an evaluation of these services. Results and recommendations of the expert report were included in the respective chapters of the final report by the Independent Commission ( Bericht der Kommission).

Publication: Bosswick, Wolfgang / Bronnenmeyer, Veit: Integrationsmaßnahmen der Wohlfahrtsverbände. Bamberg 2001

On behalf of the inter-ministry working group of the Bavarian State Government on Questions of Immigration Control and Immigration Limitation the efms compiled an expert report on integration-political aspects of controlled immigration. The expert report included an analysis of the current situation of migrant integration in Germany. In addition, it discussed the interconnection between the quantitative proportions of migration inflows and the opportunities for the integration of resident migrants. The comparative perspective with other European countries was also included.

Publication: Heckmann, Friedrich / Wunderlich, Tanja / Worbs, Susanne / Lederer, Harald W.: Integrationspolitische Aspekte einer gesteuerten Zuwanderung. Gutachten für die interministerielle Arbeitsgruppe der Bayerischen Staatsregierung zu Fragen der Zuwanderungssteuerung und Zuwanderungsbegrenzung, München 2000

In the expert report the experiences of the "classic" country of immigration, the United States, and the oldest European country of immigration, France, were illustrated. This served as a basis for the development of integration policies for migrants in Germany. The results were summarised in three scenarios.

Publication: Heckmann, Friedrich / Tomei, Veronica: Einwanderungsgesellschaft Deutschland - Zukunftsszenarien: Chancen und Konfliktpotentiale, Gutachten für die Enquetekommission Demographischer Wandel des Deutschen Bundestages, 1997. In: Zweiter Zwischenbericht der Enquete-Kommission Demographischer Wandel", Deutscher Bundestag, 13. Wahlperiode, Drucksache 13/11460, 05.10.1998; also in: Enquete-Kommission Demographischer Wandel", Deutscher Bundestag (ed.): Herausforderungen unserer älter werdenden Gesellschaft an den einzelnen und die Politik. Studienprogramm. Heidelberg 1999, Bd.4, p. 825-912.