Foreword
Education and training systems can play a key role in helping countries unlock the benefits of migration. This involves supporting immigrants to develop and use their skills, participate in the labour markets of host countries, contribute to welfare arrangements, and feel a sense of belonging in their host communities. However, the road to integration is not always well-paved and easy to navigate. Many countries face challenges when it comes to the integration of immigrants, also because there is limited knowledge about what policies and strategies are effective for successful integration.
Over the past two years, the OECD Strength through Diversity: The Integration of Immigrants and Refugees in Education and Training Systems project has developed a rich evidence-base to help countries identify the needs of new arrivals, while putting in place or scaling up integration policies to support immigrants and the communities in which they settle. This report provides a synthesis of the project’s findings and identifies eight policy pillars that can help sustain and support the effectiveness of policy design and implementation.
Importantly, the Road to Integration is not only about identifying how the skills of immigrants can be developed and effectively used. It is also about promoting their overall social and emotional well-being, recognising differences in migration-related experiences and ensuring that all people - both native populations and migrant communities - have the cognitive and affective skills required for openness to diversity and change.
The OECD, with its Strength through Diversity project, stands ready to support countries in developing and implementing policies for more inclusive education and training systems. This not only can benefit immigrants, but support all individuals to engage constructively with others in increasingly diverse and complex societies.
The development of this report was guided by Andreas Schleicher and Yuri Belfali and was overseen by the Education Policy Committee. Paulo Santiago provided support in the last stages to help finalise the report. The report was led by Francesca Borgonovi and drafted by Francesca Borgonovi, Lucie Cerna, Alessandro Ferrara and Caitlyn Guthrie. Emma Linsenmayer edited the report and Rachel Linden co-ordinated its production. Diana Tramontano, Matthew Gill, Hanna Andersson and Nikita Quarshie provided administrative and editorial support. The report was enriched by the thoughtful contributions provided by the many individuals who participated in Phase I of the Strength through Diversity project.
Andreas Schleicher
Director for Education and Skills
Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General