Migration and integration

Current information and background reports on integration and on Germany's activities in the field of refugee and migration policy.
Topic of the week: Expats in Germany
“Warm-hearted and caring”
Living in Germany: Anand and Supriya from India talk about their experience with the country and its people.
Topic of the week: Expats in Germany
"Multicultural and young city"
Living in Germany: intensive-care nurse Luisa from Italy talks about her experience in Munich.
Topic of the week: Expats in Germany
"The north is quite different"
Living in Germany: fully trained hotel clerk Michel from Brazil talks about his experience in a German tourist area.
Making it to the top
Successful careers in Germany: we introduce you to men and women who have pursued and achieved their goals here.
Empowering women in business
She brings diversity to the German business founders’ scene: Tijen Onaran is entrepreneur, investor and author.
Topic of the week: Migration and entrepreneurship
Colourful and innovative
People with migrant backgrounds are a driving force of the German startup scene – we introduce four interesting firms.
“These issues have accompanied me all my life”
Immigration as a responsibility of government – Integration Commissioner Reem Alabali-Radovan discusses challenges and experiences.
Topic of the week: Migration and entrepreneurship
Opportunities for top talents
One in five startups in Germany is founded by an entrepreneur with a migrant background. Eight interesting facts on this topic.
Topic of the week: People and media
Talking about roots
Open, humorous, relaxed: These formats focus on migration stories – and lots of other things as well.
"A great opportunity for both sides"
A project is preparing refugees for training in healthcare. Visit to a hospital in Essen.
My favourite place is a castle
The expat Asyraf Syamsul lives in the city of Cologne. But what he likes best is the environment. Learn here about what fascinates him there.
“Berlin is colourful and friendly”
The expat Sarah Slik from Canada shows you Berlin: find out here what everyday life in the German capital can look like.
Facts about expats
Why do expats come to Germany, how long do they want to stay, what do they like – and what don’t they like? The new Expat Insider 2020 Report has the answers.
An expat in Hamburg
The Moldavian expat Elena lives in Germany’s second largest city. Here she shows you Hamburg and gives you some good tips on how to make friends.
“Munich is family-friendly”
The expat Spomenka lives with her family in Munich. She tells why she feels comfortable there and reveals important links to help get started in the city.
Learning paves the way to integration
Chancellor Angela Merkel awards the National Integration Prize 2020 to the Syrian refugee Bjeen Alhassan for her commitment.
Help turns into friendship
The number of volunteers working with refugees is declining, but their commitment is continuing.
Hope at university
Many German universities have recently taken in refugee students. A look at what has been achieved and current objectives.
Joining together is better
Initiatives in Germany bring locals and refugees together, to the benefit of all. Portraits of three projects.


Europe
Self-assured migrants
Significant numbers of Poles have been migrating to Germany for around 200 years: a trend that has clear benefits.
“Give everyone a voice”
Discovering other cultures or protecting the environment: neighbourhood ambassadors want to achieve something. We introduce you to Vane Beglaryan.
Immigration in Germany - Experts Summit in Berlin
The German economy sees the shortage of #skilledworkers as one of its biggest problems. The German government now wants to take countermeasures and attract many more workers from non-EU countries.
Friends and helpers
How Aravinth Palaniswamy, Duc Tam Dam und Christina Papke, the creators of a new platform, are making things easier for expats on their arrival in Germany.
Europe
The right to opportunity
The Verfassungsschüler project helps young people find out about the Basic Law and become politically engaged.


“Education is everything”
Only one percent of refugees study – unlike 37 percent of all young people worldwide. A conference in Berlin focussed on how to change this state of affairs.
More refugees and displaced persons than ever worldwide
No solutions for new crises: The number of refugees worldwide is growing to a new record. There is a lack of solidarity, says the head of the UN Refugee Agency. He has great praise for Germany.


“We want to take a stance”
Facts instead of prejudices and assumptions: How a new federal institute seeks to contribute to the successful integration of migrants.
Deciding on asylum faster
The European Union wants to re-adjust the admittance and distribution of refugees. What is planned? Four questions and answers.
Researching in safety
Lawyer Anan Al Sheikh Haidar fled from Syria and now teaches at the University of Cologne – as a fellowship holder of the Philipp Schwartz Initiative.
Does immigration stop demographic change?
Germany's population is shrinking. Immigration could make up for that - right? A population researcher explains why this is not so simple.
Rescuers in a dilemma
Europe discusses the role of private maritime rescuers in the Mediterranean. This is what it is all about.
How can migration be regulated?
Germany’s leading think tank on immigration makes some suggestions.
From conflict to classroom
They were experienced teachers in Syria or other crisis countries, but then they had to flee. They would like to teach again in Germany. But that isn’t easy.
See Berlin through new eyes!
Guided tour with Hamdi Kassar: The Syrian and other refugees present their Berlin.
Lots of new neighbours
Altena has taken far more refugees than it was assigned, and has integrated them in exemplary fashion – even winning an award from the German chancellor in the process.
Overcoming barriers
Why do our countries approach migration so differently? School students from Poland, France and Germany find answers.
“Let’s celebrate our diversities”
Jumana Eltgani from Sudan talks about “aha” moments in Germany and makes a passionate plea for diversity.
“Creating safe and legal routes”
The migration policy of the future was the subject of a meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) in Berlin.
Welcome to Berlin
International visitors found out on a tour of the Moabit district how a school and volunteers are busy promoting integration.
“Writing On” – despite threats and flight
These voices are not to fall silent – the project “Weiter Schreiben” (Writing On) helps authors who have fled their country or can no longer publish their work in their country of origin.
The Language of Music
The “Bridges” project brings musicians who are refugees together with German musicians in a joint orchestra.
Making a fresh start in Tunisia
A German-Tunisian advice centre in Tunis aims to integrate returnees from Europe and improve the job prospects of young Tunisians.
Arriving on the labour market
Two women are training refugees as carers. Now their social enterprise has won the Special Impact Award.
The fabric prospects are made of
How start-ups are enabling refugees to enter the labour market. A visit to a fashion dressmaker’s in Frankfurt am Main.
Philosophy and migration
How do philosophers respond to current migration issues? A brief interview with Julian Nida-Rümelin, professor of philosophy and former Federal Government commissioner.
Arriving in Germany
Karamba Diaby on his path in Germany and how integration can be successful.
From child refugee to trendy restauranteur
How The Duc Ngo, who came to Germany from Vietnam aged five, made a career for himself in the gastronomy sector.
“It is impressive how motivated they are”
Many young people who come to Germany as refugees were still at university or building a career back home. German universities are helping them to restart their academic lives.
A maths problem was the breakthrough
Just a year after fleeing from Syria, Wael Amayri already speaks German and is at university. In our interview he explains how he achieved this.
Germany’s humanitarian assistance in Syria
Germany is one of the leading donor states in providing assistance for people in the conflict zones in Syria. A report on the daily reality of the humanitarian aid workers.
Temporary return to normality in a refugee camp
Tens of thousands of Syrian refugees live in Zaatari in Jordan. Small jobs, for example in waste separation, now give them an income.
The new Germans
On being and becoming German – how the challenge presented by an influx of refugees can become a win-win constellation.
Refugees are building a future for themselves
Many skilled-craft companies are short of skilled workers. Many young refugees are looking for new prospects. A Federal Government programme is bringing the two sides together step by step.
Rapid integration pays off
According to new research, the rapid integration of refugees into the labour market generates a long-term advantage for all.
“Lots of people want to do something”
Sociologist Serhat Karakayali on the background to the big increase in the number of people helping refugees.
“Integrate refugees swiftly into the labour market“
The top economist Marcel Fratzscher, political advisor and President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) in Berlin, sees immigration primarily as an opportunity.