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Fafo seminar

Street-level integration work: policy and practice in the Nordic countries

Thursday 12. October 2023

kl. 12:30–16:30

When refugees and immigrants arrive in the Nordic countries, they encounter a welfare state with significant aspirations for their societal and economic integration, but with different policy-approaches. What unfolds when national migration and integration policies are translated into daily practices at the street-level? And how does the implementation of policies differ among Denmark, Norway, and Sweden?

The Nordic countries are celebrated for their inclusive welfare systems. The successful integration of migrants is pivotal to upholding and legitimizing these welfare models. However, despite the Nordic countries' shared characteristics of universal welfare states, their responses to migration and integration challenges varies significantly.

At this seminar, we discuss the dilemmas and challenges of street-level workers within the contested field of migration- and integration policy in the Nordic countries. We have invited researchers and practitioners who will address migration- and integration policy and its implementation, in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. How do the integration-policy efforts differ, and how have they developed? How may the street-level perspective contribute to our understanding of integration efforts? What are the dilemmas and challenges in labor market integration of migrants in Sweden and Norway? How do the street-workers translate policy into practice in their encounters with asylum seekers in Denmark? How do street-level workers navigate and coordinate the extensive welfare services in their work with migrants?

The seminar is organized by a Nordic network of researchers within the field of Street-Level Integration Work. The network is coordinated by Fafo. Read more about the project: Nordic Street-Level Integration Work

Programme

Welcome by Hanne C. Kavli, Head of Research, Fafo

Introduction by Maria Gussgard Volckmar-Eeg, Researcher, Fafo. Presentation (pdf)

Introductions by

  • Grete Brochmann, Professor, University of Oslo (The introduction was held in Norwegian). Presentation (pdf)
  • Evelyn Z. Brodkin, Associate Professor, The University of Chicago. Presentation (pdf)

Questions from the audience

Coffee break

Introductions by

  • Birgitta Guevara, Integration Manager, County Administrative Board, Västra Götaland. Presentation (pdf)
  • Cecilie Glomseth, Senior Advisor, Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. (The introduction was held in Norwegian). Presentation (pdf)

Questions from the audience

Coffee break

Introductions by

  • Kjetil Lundberg, Professor, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL). Presentation (pdf)
  • Karen Nielsen Breidahl, Associate Professor, Aalborg University
  • Andreas Diedrich, Professor, University of Gothenburg. Presentation (pdf)

Questions from the audience

Chair: Maria Gussgard Volckmar-Eeg and Silje Andresen, Fafo