National Research Council
of Italy
CNR-CERIS
Institute for Economic
Research on Firm and Growth Collegio Carlo Alberto - via
Real Collegio, n. 30
10024 Moncalieri (Torino) – ITALY
fax : +39 011 68 24
966;
Abstract:Migration and work
are truly connected notions, both because one major cause of migration is the
search of better working conditions, and because work is a fundamental vehicle
of social cohesion, especially for the migrants. Hence, the European social
model strongly connects social cohesion and employment policies, fostering
sustainable growth and integration by offering increasing job opportunities,
particularly concerning the weak categories. Therefore, work is a pillar of
active citizenship and a fundamental step in individuals’ self-construction and
the development of social abilities. In such context, vocational training
represents a twofold integration channel, combining both education and work
paths. Hence, the European Commission (2010) fosters a cohesive growth through
vocational education and training (VET) policies, promoting a modern VET system
and increasing its quality and efficiency. In Italy, the role of VET is
particularly important for first- and second-generation immigrants, who are
more likely to attend VET courses than different education paths. However, Italy
is the only European country where VET is perceived like a segregation path,
rather than like a port of entry to active citizenship and true integration. In
fact, Cedefop (2011) notices that high linguistic barriers and rigid teaching
methods characterize the Italian vocational education, while it stresses the
high flexibility of Italian vocational training, including an higher
adaptability to immigrants’ needs.
The present work
discusses thehypothesis of “subordinate
integration” of immigrants into the Italian VET system. In particular, it
examines the effectiveness of Piedmont VT policies in fostering employability
of weak subjects. The results of a CATI survey on a representative sample of
Piedmont VT students suggest no specific discrimination to the detriment of
immigrants, whose individual background and work assimilation is similar to
that of Italian VT students. Moreover, the net impact evaluation suggests a
positive impact of training courses on strangers, which is generally higher for
communitarian immigrants. Hence, immigrants’ participation to VT courses in
Italy seems to denote a sort of normalization strategy of their specific
differences, rather than a subordinate integration scheme.
[1]Paper presented at the 53rd ERSA Congress, “Regional
Integration: Europe, the Mediterranean and the World Economy”, Palermo (Italy),
27-31 August 2013.
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