Beyond the crisis: Interdisciplinary - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Beyond the crisis: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Refugees’ Skills, Needs and Aspirations

Dimitris Skleparis

Refugee Crisis: A Comparative Research Workshop, Erasmus University Rotterdam,

September 29th, 2017Slide2

Research TeamGeorgios Karyotis (PI, Politics)Lesley Doyle (Education)Ben Colburn (Philosophy)Kristinn Hermannsson‎

(Education)Gareth Mulvey‎ (Sociology)Dimitris Skleparis (Politics)Slide3

Background and PurposeProtracted Syrian conflict necessitates policies to enable refugees to train and work at least temporarily in host countries (World Bank 2015)Scarcity of research on skills needs of refugee young adults (Chatty, 2007) Analogously disadvantaged host population perspectives also under-researched

Ethical dimension to promote social cohesion and welfare for both

refugees and hosts

Need for development of a new interdisciplinary frameworkSlide4

Interdisciplinary ApproachEducational Sociology

P

hilosophy

P

olitical

B

ehaviour

Context (socio-political and economic

)Slide5

Theoretical FrameworkSynthesis of insights from migration studies, education, philosophy, political behaviour and sociologyDeveloping of new interdisciplinary framework to study refugees’ opportunities for skill development, integration and/or repatriation attuned to the existing opportunity structures in their home and host countries.Slide6

Educational lensTempting to use HCT but focuses on individuals’ skills in the economy, with assumed homogeneity of intentions, and agencyMigrants struggle to gain employment at their skill-accredited levels (Qureshi et al, 2013) - lack of receptiveness of employers ‘entirely disregarded’ by HTC theorists (Bowles & Gintis 1975 cited in Almeida et al 2014:124; Laurison &

Friedman (2016)Need for structural focus on training deficits which impact negatively on local industry, refugees and home population in each countrySlide7

Philosophical lensEmphasis on: the importance of individuals’ own ethical perspectives in determining their claims within theories of distributive justice.the moral and legal obligation to support all refugees, not just those that can readily make a contribution to the economy.interpreting young refugees’ and host populations’ underlying ethical frameworks, with a view to identifying overlapping

elements, which can be used to advocate ‘fair’ policy proposals.Slide8

Political Behaviour lensFurther limitation of HTC is focus on ‘value creation’ rather than ‘value realisation’

(Livingston, 1999) Highlights need to identify and cultivate the development of refugees’ skills in line

with their

aspirations

P

olicy

initiatives

needed which are framed for refugees and host societies

.

Value of framing:

realist

and liberal framing (Geddes 2003; Karyotis 2007)Slide9

Context – Greece Approximately 40,000 international protection beneficiaries and applicants.51,000 applications for international protection in 2016; half of them by

Syrians.No official data regarding the demographic and socioeconomic profile of the Syrian population.According to a

UNHCR, the

majority are ethnic Arabs (79%), 25-59 years old (27%), married (52%), Sunni Muslims (95%), while the highest level of completed education among the adult population is secondary (48%).Slide10

Context – Lebanon1,011,366 registered Syrian refugees.In addition, about 300,000 registered Syrian Palestinian refugees.Registered Syrian refugees: 52.5%

females and 47.5% males. 42% 18-59 years old

and 55

%

0-17

years

old. 60

%

single

.

87

% with primary education or below’.The most common employment among women is service and sales workers (around 90%).Almost half of male Syrian refugees

are employed in

low-skilled

jobs.Slide11

Context – UKNo publicly available data regarding the numbers, and demographic and socioeconomic profile of the Syrian population.The sixth highest number (41,000) of international protection applicants in the EU, including their

dependants in 2016.37,958 international protection applicants and their dependants were receiving asylum support in the UK in 2016.There is no UK-wide overarching integration strategy.Slide12

Setting and MethodsUK, Greece and LebanonFieldworker-administered and self-completion survey with 1500 young Syrian refugees 18-32 to discover skills and needsTelephone survey on corresponding attitudes and

belief structures of host populations (3500)Access issues and solutionsSlide13

Refugee Survey: Progress so farGreece

LebanonUKNo. of completed surveys

496

532

369Slide14

Demographics (1)Greece

LebanonUKMale

65.93%

60.15%

65.58%

Female

33.67%

39.85%

34.15%

Other

0.40%

0.00%

0.27%

Greece

Lebanon

UK

Married

49.19%

52.44%

55.83%

Living with partner (but not married)

1.81%

1.88%

0.27%

Widowed

1.41%

0.75%

0.54%

Divorced/Separated

2.22%

1.32%

2.17%

Single (never married)

42.34%

41.73%

40.38%

NR

3.02%

1.88%

0.81%Slide15

Demographics (2)Greece

LebanonUKMuslim

87.30%

92.48%

92.95%

Christian

1.41%

1.13%

1.36%

Yazidi

2.62%

0.00%

0.00%

Other……

1.01%

2.07%

1.63%

None

2.42%

2.07%

0.27%

Prefer not to say

5.24%

2.26%

3.79%

Greece

Lebanon

UK

A big city

62.10%

64.47%

55.83%

The suburbs or outskirts of a big city

6.65%

7.33%

15.72%

A small city or town

16.33%

7.71%

14.09%

A country village

14.92%

20.49%

14.36%Slide16

Politics (1)How interested are you in politics?

GreeceLebanonUK

Not at all

56.36%

65.04%

44.84%

Slightly

11.52%

14.29%

22.83%

Moderately

10.91%

12.03%

22.01%

Very

2.02%

4.51%

4.35%

Extremely

2.63%

3.01%

2.45%

DK

7.47%

0.38%

1.63%

NR

9.09%

0.75%

1.90%Slide17

Politics (2)Since you left Syria, how often do you usually use each of the followingto obtain information about politics and society? (very often & fairly often)

GreeceLebanon

UK

Traditional media (newspapers, TV programmes, radio)

8.69%

29.14%

12.50%

Social Media (Facebook. Twitter etc)

28.48%

20.49%

38.85%

Other Internet sources (news sites, forums etc)

12.32%

16.17%

19.02%

Smartphone

31.31%

26.31%

52.18%

Discussion with friends, relatives, colleagues

21.01%

23.12%

29.62%Slide18

Accommodation (1)Greece

LebanonUKApartment / house (not shared)

20.77%

49.62%

82.38%

Apartment / house (shared)

30.04%

44.55%

16.53%

Camp (ISObox)

15.12%

0.38%

0.00%

Camp (Tent)

2.02%

0.00%

0.00%

Informal/Unofficial camp / Squat

8.67%

1.69%

0.00%

Hotel

17.14%

0.00%

0.27%

Homeless

0.60%

0.19%

0.54%

Local authority care

1.41%

0.19%

0.00%

Other:

4.23%

3.38%

0.27%Slide19

Accommodation (2)Greece

LebanonUKNo rent – Owned apartment / house

0.79%

2.79%

0.27%

My friends / family / relatives pay the rent

1.98%

25.35%

6.58%

No rent – Hosted for free by employer

0.40%

9.18%

0.55%

I pay the rent

5.56%

54.29%

21.92%

The state / municipality pays the rent

1.98%

0.00%

64.38%

NGOs / charities / civil society organisations pay the rent

58.73%

0.00%

1.64%

Other:

3.97%

7.98%

3.01%

DK

21.83%

0.00%

1.10%

NR

4.76%

0.40%

0.55%

Who pays the rent in your apartment/house?Slide20

Education (1)Greece

LebanonUKElementary / Primary

22.58%

47.56%

14.63%

Intermediate (Grade 9, General National Exam)

32.86%

25.94%

31.98%

General Secondary – Literary (Baccalaureate)

10.89%

9.02%

15.18%

General Secondary – Scientific (Baccalaureate)

8.87%

1.88%

10.84%

Technical Secondary

6.85%

2.07%

2.44%

Informatics School

0.81%

0.38%

0.81%

University – Undergraduate (BA/BSc)

14.52%

7.52%

16.53%

University – Postgraduate (Master’s)

0.81%

1.32%

2.44%

University – Doctorate (PhD)

0.00%

0.00%

0.81%

Other qualifications obtained in Syria:

0.81%

1.69%

1.90%

Qualifications obtained elsewhere:

0.00%

0.19%

2.17%

DK/NR

1.01%

2.44%

0.27%

What is the highest qualification you

have obtained

in Syria

OR elsewhere

?Slide21

Employment Status in SyriaGreece

LebanonUKFull time salaried/waged employment (more than 30 hours / week)

18.75%

21.80%

23.37%

Full time self-employment (more than 30 hours / week)

18.15%

13.72%

10.60%

Part-time salaried/waged employment (less than 30 hours / week but wanted to work full-time)

2.62%

3.01%

1.90%

Part-time salaried/waged employment (less than 30 hours / week and wanted to work part-time)

2.82%

0.56%

1.63%

Part-time self-employment (less than 30 hours / week but wanted to work full-time)

1.61%

2.63%

1.90%

Part-time self-employment (less than 30 hours / week and wanted to work part-time)

1.21%

1.88%

0.82%

Homemaker

18.75%

23.68%

13.86%

Student

24.80%

17.11%

39.40%

Unable to work (e.g. due to disability)

1.01%

0.38%

2.17%

Unemployed

6.05%

14.28%

2.72%

DK/NR

4.23%

0.94%

1.63%Slide22

Education (2)Greece

LebanonUKNo

49.40%

76.32%

60.16%

Yes

46.17%

22.37%

39.57%

NR

4.44%

1.32%

0.27%

Was your education interrupted by the conflicts?

Greece

Lebanon

UK

No

69.96%

65.60%

53.39%

Yes

26.61%

31.95%

46.34%

DK

0.20%

0.94%

0.00%

NR

3.23%

1.50%

0.27%

Do you have any documentation with you to verify your

educational qualifications

?Slide23

Aspired Employment Status Greece

LebanonUKFull time salaried/waged employment (more than 30 hours / week)

31.65%

29.32%

29.35%

Full time self-employment (more than 30 hours / week)

17.74%

25.38%

16.03%

Part-time salaried/waged employment (less than 30 hours / week)

4.84%

7.89%

7.07%

Part-time self-employment (less than 30 hours / week)

4.23%

4.89%

2.72%

Homemaker

11.49%

18.05%

3.80%

Student

15.32%

4.89%

30.43%

Not planning to participate in the labour market for other reasons

3.23%

7.52%

3.26%

DK/NR

11.49%

2.07%

7.34%Slide24

Current Employment Status Greece

LebanonUKFull time salaried/waged employment (more than 30 hours / week)

5.44%

38.72%

7.07%

Full time self-employment (more than 30 hours / week)

1.81%

8.08%

4.62%

Part-time salaried/waged employment (less than 30 hours / week but wanted to work full-time)

0.81%

5.26%

7.34%

Part-time salaried/waged employment (less than 30 hours / week and wanted to work part-time)

0.20%

0.94%

2.99%

Part-time self-employment (less than 30 hours / week but wanted to work full-time)

0.60%

1.50%

2.45%

Part-time self-employment (less than 30 hours / week and wanted to work part-time)

0.20%

1.88%

0.82%

Homemaker

19.35%

25.75%

14.95%

Student

7.06%

2.26%

36.14%

Unable to work (e.g. due to disability)

2.22%

0.56%

1.90%

Unemployed

53.03%

15.04%

20.65%

DK/NR

9.27%

0.00%

1.09%Slide25

Job in SyriaGreece

LebanonUKProfessional or highly technical work (e.g. doctor, accountant, schoolteacher, university lecturer, social worker, systems analyst)

6.70%

6.90%

30.41%

Manager or Senior Administrator (e.g. company director, finance manager, personnel manager, senior sales manager, senior local government officer)

2.23%

0.00%

2.70%

Clerical work (e.g. clerk, secretary)

6.25%

0.43%

4.73%

Sales or Services (e.g. commercial traveller, shop assistant, nursery nurse, care assistant, paramedic)

10.71%

6.03%

7.43%

Small Business Owner (e.g. shop owner, small builder, farmer, restaurant owner)

16.52%

10.78%

12.84%

Foreman or Supervisor of other Workers (e.g. building site foreman, supervisor of cleaning workers)

1.34%

2.16%

3.38%

Skilled Manual Work (e.g. plumber, electrician, fitter, train driver, cook, hairdresser)

33.48%

21.98%

27.70%

Semi-skilled or Unskilled Manual Work (e.g. machine operator, assembler, postman, waitress, cleaner, labourer, driver, bar-worker, call-centre worker)

10.27%

26.72%

4.05%

Other type of work:

7.14%

24.14%

6.08%Slide26

Aspired JobGreece

LebanonUKProfessional or highly technical work (e.g. doctor, accountant, schoolteacher, university lecturer, social worker, systems analyst)

16.21%

9.19%

26.60%

Manager or Senior Administrator (e.g. company director, finance manager, personnel manager, senior sales manager, senior local government officer)

4.83%

1.39%

6.40%

Clerical work (e.g. clerk, secretary)

1.03%

2.51%

1.48%

Sales or Services (e.g. commercial traveller, shop assistant, nursery nurse, care assistant, paramedic)

9.31%

14.21%

4.93%

Small Business Owner (e.g. shop owner, small builder, farmer, restaurant owner)

13.10%

21.73%

17.24%

Foreman or Supervisor of other Workers (e.g. building site foreman, supervisor of cleaning workers)

2.07%

6.69%

2.46%

Skilled Manual Work (e.g. plumber, electrician, fitter, train driver, cook, hairdresser)

31.38%

24.51%

27.59%

Semi-skilled or Unskilled Manual Work (e.g. machine operator, assembler, postman, waitress, cleaner, labourer, driver, bar-worker, call-centre worker)

6.55%

8.91%

4.43%

Other type of work:

8.62%

9.19%

3.45%Slide27

Current Job (1)Greece

LebanonUKProfessional or highly technical work (e.g. doctor, accountant, schoolteacher, university lecturer, social worker, systems analyst)

13.33%

3.67%

21.51%

Manager or Senior Administrator (e.g. company director, finance manager, personnel manager, senior sales manager, senior local government officer)

2.22%

0.00%

2.15%

Clerical work (e.g. clerk, secretary)

13.33%

1.67%

3.23%

Sales or Services (e.g. commercial traveller, shop assistant, nursery nurse, care assistant, paramedic)

0.00%

12.00%

11.83%

Small Business Owner (e.g. shop owner, small builder, farmer, restaurant owner)

4.44%

4.33%

9.68%

Foreman or Supervisor of other Workers (e.g. building site foreman, supervisor of cleaning workers)

0.00%

2.67%

3.23%

Skilled Manual Work (e.g. plumber, electrician, fitter, train driver, cook, hairdresser)

20.00%

20.33%

24.73%

Semi-skilled or Unskilled Manual Work (e.g. machine operator, assembler, postman, waitress, cleaner, labourer, driver, bar-worker, call-centre worker)

4.44%

31.33%

15.05%

Other type of work:

17.78%

23.33%

6.45%Slide28

Current Job (2)Do you have social security?

GreeceLebanon

UK

No

53.33%

97.33%

30.11%

Yes

37.78%

0.67%

49.46%

DK

6.67%

0.67%

16.13%

NR

2.22%

1.33%

4.30%Slide29

Current Job (3)Greece

LebanonUKSyrian acquaintance

22.22%

27.67%

39.78%

Greek/Lebanese/British acquaintance

6.67%

28.00%

16.13%

Door to door inquiry

8.89%

33.00%

8.60%

I started my own business

4.44%

3.33%

5.38%

I started working voluntarily / as an intern

2.22%

1.00%

6.45%

Local organisation/municipality (e.g. job centre)

0.00%

0.00%

8.60%

Religious institution

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

International organisation/NGO

11.11%

2.33%

1.08%

Media ad (e.g. TV, newspaper, internet)

11.11%

2.67%

4.30%

Other:

2.22%

1.00%

4.30%

DK

4.44%

0.00%

3.23%

NR

26.67%

1.00%

2.15%

How did you find your current job?Slide30

EmotionsGreece

LebanonUKAnxious

21.11%

18.51%

9.96%

Desperate

13.68%

15.89%

2.31%

Afraid

9.40%

11.09%

5.47%

Angry

4.62%

3.77%

0.73%

Sad

13.68%

15.31%

5.59%

Confident

5.64%

3.77%

11.42%

Hopeful

14.96%

10.06%

25.88%

Proud

2.91%

1.49%

5.22%

Happy

4.70%

8.57%

20.29%

Grateful

5.73%

10.17%

11.42%

None of the above (volunteered)

1.11%

0.46%

0.73%

DK/NR

2.48%

0.91%

0.97%

How do

you feel about your current situation in Greece/Lebanon/UK?

[

UP TO 4 CHOICES]Slide31

Future PlansNow, in your current situation, are you planning to remain in Greece / Lebanon / UK? If not, where are you planning to go?

Greece

Lebanon

UK

Yes, I am planning to remain in Greece/Lebanon/UK

12.12%

38.72%

73.64%

No, I am planning to go to another European country

75.56%

13.16%

1.09%

No, I am planning to go to another non-European country

1.62%

1.32%

1.09%

No, I am planning to go back to the country of transit (Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, etc.)

1.21%

0.56%

0.54%

No, I am planning to go back to Syria

1.41%

36.47%

9.78%

DK

3.64%

8.46%

13.59%

NR

4.44%

1.32%

0.27%Slide32

Concluding Remarks

Policy

Challenges:

Greece: Documentation/recognition of qualifications and transition from aid-dependency to self-reliance.

Lebanon: Improvement of skills and qualifications, and regulation of

labour

market relations.

UK: Continue accommodating the educational and training needs without neglecting those of the host population

.

How can governments successfully address these challenges and communicate progressive policies within the context of strained resources and social antagonisms?