Script – Research on the integration paradox among highly-educated migrants from Turkey

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The Netherlands is keen to attract highly-educated migrants to ensure an innovative future. In 2018, almost 7000 migrants from Turkey came to the Netherlands.

Previous research shows that highly-educated migrants from Turkey feel less part of the Netherlands than lower-educated migrants do. This is called the integration paradox.

How come?

We previously found the integration paradox using survey data. From this survey we selected specifically those people who could inform us about this paradox.

Subsequently we interviewed two groups of highly-educated migrants: one group who feels connected to the Netherlands and one group who does not.

We’ve found three things that stand in the way of highly-educated migrants feeling at home here.

First, high expectations regarding tolerance and economic opportunities in the Netherlands, which are unmet.

Social exclusion, such as experiencing prejudice, is a second obstacle. Dutch people expect these migrants to not drink alcohol, whereas the Turkish community frowns upon them for having a ‘western’ outlook. Someone said: “According to my family here I’m not very Turkish, but for Dutch people I am too Turkish.”

Thirdly, migrants feel guilty about leaving Turkey. “I just do nothing now, except for voting”. Such concerns hamper building a future in the Netherlands.

So, feeling like you belong in a country is easier said than done.

What helps? Investing in awareness of existing prejudice for example, thus reducing them.

This way, highly-educated migrants from Turkey can come into their own in the Netherlands.

Curious? Check out our research.

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