Addressing high levels of unemployment of migrants who are third-country nationals

[Background] [The seminar aims to] [Who should attend] [Programme] [Event Information] [Application Form]

Background

This event will present the results of the transnational IMPACT project, the UK element of which was carried out in partnership between NIACE and Leicester City Council. The IMPACT project (Integrating Migrants through the Provision of Adaptability and Competence Training) aimed to address the problem of high rates of unemployment among particular groups of third-country nationals legally residing in the EU. The work of the project has been to develop methods to enable managers and practitioners in mainstream employment services to recognise and audit the skills and qualifications that migrants have acquired prior to their arrival in the UK, so that such services can support the social and vocational integration of migrants.

Third-country nationals is a term used by the European Union (EU) institutions to refer to people who are not the nationals of the 27 EU member states. This category does not refer to people who are asylum seekers or refugees. People who are third- country nationals usually arrive in the UK for family reasons, to work or to study.

It is estimated that EU nationals have an employment rate twice that of migrants living in the EU. At the same time the changing demography of the EU indicates the future increasing reliance upon migrants’ contribution to the labour market. Various studies provide evidence to suggest that migrants bring with them a range of skills and qualifications which go largely unrecognised. Few EU countries have effective systems to assess and validate these skills, resulting in the lack of understanding by employers of what migrants have to offer, hence maintaining higher levels of unemployment and under-employment.

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The seminar aims to

• Present the information about the employment situation of third-country nationals
• Examine ways in which employment services can respond to the skills assessment and recognition of third country nationals, and provide appropriate and effective information, advice and guidance
• Present and review the training resource.

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Who should attend

The seminar is aimed at policy makers, service provision managers and frontline practitioners from a range of organisations involved in education, training and employment support for adults.

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Programme

10:00 Registration and refreshments

10:30 Welcome and introductions - Jane Watts, Programme Director, NIACE

10:40 The employment situation of third country nationals - the rationale for the IMPACT project Jane Watts.

11:00 Key note: Professor Sonia McKay Working Lives Research Institute, London Metropolitan University

11:30 Refreshment Break

11:50 Issues to consider when advising third country nationals - Presentations by advisors who participated in the IMPACT project.

13:15 Lunch

14:00 Leicester approach - Kerry Gray, Senior Manager Learner Responsiveness, Leicester City Council.

14:20 Introduction to the IMPACT Project Training Resource: Supporting education advice practitioners in their work with third-country nationals - followed by group activities.

15:10 Closing remarks TBC

15:30 Close

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Event Information

To attend this event, please complete this Booking Form by Friday 12 of February 2010. This form can be saved and returned by email to: gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk or printed and posted to: Gurjit Kaur, NIACE Events Team, Renaissance House, Princess Road West, Leicester, LE1 6TP Fax: 0116 254 8368

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Application Form

(For people not using the online reservation system above)