“Don’t lose time, it is your life!” A research on study-work programmes as a time- saving approach to increase the chances of labour market integration of refugees in the Netherlands ANNELIE DE GRAAF Annelie de Graaf Master Human Geography Specialisation: Migration, Globalisation and Development December 2017 II “Don’t lose time, it is your life!” A research on study-work programmes as a time-saving approach to increase the chances of labour market integration of refugees in the Netherlands Annelie de Graaf Student number: s4226216 Contact: [email protected] Radboud University Nijmegen Nijmegen School of Management Human Geography Department Specialisation: Migration, Globalisation and Development December 2017 Thesis Supervisor: dr. R.A.H. Hoekstra-Pijpers (RU) Second Reader: José Muller (RU) Note: the illustration on the front page is a scan copy of notes made by the researcher during the analysis of the participatory appraisal techniques. The quote used in the title of this thesis is a quote by Ahmed, one of the participants of the study-work programmes analysed in this research. III IV Abstract This dissertation utilises Bourdieu’s framework on forms of capitals and Young’s vision on equality and marginalisation to analyse a new form of compensational projects for refugees in the Netherlands, namely study-work programmes. These programmes bring different forms of capital together with the aim to enhance the labour market opportunities of this marginalized group. The findings are based on qualitative research methods which highlight the insider’s perspective. By juxtaposing four case studies, this research draws out diversity and commonalities between the cases on the themes of organisation, recognition of experiences and combination of the aspects language-study-work. This research underlines the reality of inequality and structural exclusion of refugees in contemporary Dutch society. However, the cases mostly shine light on the potential of study-work programmes as a compensational project to enhance the opportunities of refugees on the Dutch labour market and slowly break the structure of exclusion. V VI Preface “The distribution of wealth is too important an issue to be left to economists, sociologists, historians, and philosophers. It is of interest to everyone, and that is a good thing. The concrete, physical reality of inequality is visible to the naked eye…” (Piketty, 2014, p.2) What we see and experience shapes our judgements of what is and is not just. What I have seen and experienced during my active contact with refugees and other migrants in the Netherlands has shaped my opinion. Hence my opinion is fundamentally subjective. Personal involvement in social issues –which I perceive as unjust- is in my blood. For the past two years, this energy has been focussed towards injustices concerning refugees in the Netherlands. We can discuss injustices endlessly and I am sure that my opinion on the topic of refugees will be contradicting to the perspectives of many others. However, injustice and conflict is not the focus of this research. I would rather focus on the positive innovations that are visible through all layers of society aimed at breaking structures of exclusion. It turns out that -exactly like Piketty states (see quote above)- justice and injustice is of interest to everyone, not only scholars. In my fieldwork for this research I have seen a combination of people from different spheres working together for change: what a beautiful thing to see. I was inspired by the work of UAF and curious about bottom-up innovation concerning support of refugees. In a political landscape where multiculturalism is seen as a failure and the public debate around immigration and refugees often gets heated, I see great potential in projects such as the study-work programmes investigated in this dissertation. Being highly involved with UAF in the past and having interviewed many refugees in the Netherlands for former research, my motivation to contribute to the development of projects such as study-work programmes has only increased. I hope the findings of this research will be helpful for the development of the programmes. I would like to thank all people who have supported me throughout this research. Firstly, my respondents for their openness, time and trust to speak about topics which are not always easy. I wish you all the best for your careers in the Netherlands. VII Secondly, thanks to my informants for welcoming me in their institutions and talking openly about the positive and negative aspects of their hard work. I am looking forward to see what the future holds for your programmes. Third, UAF deserves all acknowledgement for providing me with inside information and contacts. The effort and energy that all UAF employees put into their jobs is inspiring. I would like to bring special attention towards Stannie Maessen for her numerous intelligent insights. UAF brings hope to a lot of people, this is a special gift. Furthermore, I would like to thank my supervisor Roos Pijpers for her endless flexibility, critical perspective and motivational talks. I greatly appreciate the adapted guidance you have provided me with. I am also grateful to my second reader José Muller for her quick adjustment during the last phase of this research. Last but not least, I would like to warmly thank my family and friends for their never- ending support. Special thanks go to my parents Ed de Graaf and Mariet Kroonen, for opening up the quiet space of their home for me, and Pablo Riera Begué, for motivating me from a very far distance. Personally, I believe in the potential of migrants and therefore I want to end this preface with a quote that serves as the base of this research. I believe we need to keep this positive note in mind: “migration is not an undesirable phenomenon: what is needed is a concerted effort to channel the energy of migrants into productive activities.” (Adepujo, 1977, p223) I hope the stories of these people inspire you, just like they have inspired me. Annelie de Graaf Nijmegen, December 2017 VIII Summary Over the past years, thousands of people have fled their homes and turned to the Netherlands to seek international protection. These people bring skills and knowledge to their countries of destination. However, many experience obstacles integrating in the new society. One obstacle is that former working and learning experiences are not recognized. Furthermore, refugees often have to wait a long time before they are allowed to study or work. In the literature, it is suggested that integration projects should focus on saving time by combining different aspects of integration, include recognition practices and focus on the involvement of civil society actors. This has led to a new phenomenon in the Netherlands, namely study-work programmes. Within these programmes, different actors work together to combine language, study and work with the aim to enhance the chances at labour market integration of refugees. This study takes a closer look at four study-work programmes in the Netherlands. The purpose of this research is to reflect upon study-work programmes and to gain insights in (1) the way different actors relate to each other in practice of study-work programmes, (2) processes of in- and exclusion regarding the recognition of former experiences of refugees, and (3) the way language-study-work come together. The main question of this thesis is: To what extent do study-work programmes enhance the chances at labour market integration of refugees in the Netherlands? For this research, I focus on labour market integration and the broader concepts of distribution of capitals and equality of opportunity. To discuss and analyse the problem of lack of labour market integration of refugees, we need to start by taking a look at the phenomenon of inequality. This brings us to Bourdieu and his focus on societal positions of marginalized groups. According to Bourdieu, there are three types of capital which influence the position one has in the game of social reality, namely economic, cultural and social capital (1986). The more capital you have, the more chances you have to be successful. However, the game is not a level playing-field, it favours players from the upper-class. Refugees as a marginalized group have less chances at winning the game. This can be perceived as unequal or unjust. Several compensational projects arise in society attempting to give marginalized groups better chances. Study-work programmes could be perceived as such a project. However, as Young (1990) and Walzer (1983) state critically, we need to consider if such programmes which redistribute capitals to enhance the opportunities protect the structure of exclusion or whether they truly open doors for equality and justice. To understand the ideas behind study-work programmes we need to discuss the concept of integration. I focus on labour market integration as a broad concept where different forms of integration come together. Labour market integration therefore also depends on many different elements, such as legal structures, social network, educational diploma’s. This can be described by the concept of super- diversity (Vertovec, 2007). This enormous diversity makes formulating integration policy an uneasy task. The upcoming phenomenon which is supposed to solve some IX of the problems are study-work programmes. These programmes are based on the idea that (1) different actors should be involved (specifically civil society), (2) extra attention needs to be given to the recognition of someone’s former experiences and knowledge and (3) waiting time could be reduced by combining language, study and work within one programme. The findings of this research are based on a qualitative multiple case study which highlights the insider’s perspective. I have conducted in-depth interviews, participatory appraisal techniques, participant observations and document analysis.