Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MIDIC (Migrant Descendants’ Intercultural Competence and their Recognition in the English and Italian Labour Market)
Reporting period: 2020-04-01 to 2022-03-31
In the last decades migrants and their descendants have transformed the ethnic composition of European societies, a trend set to continue. Whilst anti-migration discourse risks overshadowing opportunities inherent to multi-ethnic societies, it is vital to look at the contribution that migrant descendants (MD) could make to European societies. Thanks to their growing up within multiple ethnocultural environments, they may offer potential to develop intercultural competence (IC), a set of psychological resources enabling effective and constructive engagement with people perceived as culturally different. Surprisingly, scientific research had never delved in depth into this potential. Addressing this gap, MIDIC (MIGRANT DESCENDANTS’ INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE AND THEIR RECOGNITION IN THE ENGLISH AND ITALIAN LABOUR MARKET) revolved around the recognition of MD’s IC in the labour market.
Combining contributions from migration studies and literature on IC, MIDIC aimed at analysing: A) how MD describe their IC and its development, B) whether they perceive it as an asset with value in the labour market, and C) whether employers consider IC as a resource.
MIDIC aimed at advancing the existing knowledge on IC and on MD social inclusion processes. Contrary to most relevant literature, that focuses on MIDs’ social disadvantage risking reinforcing popular constructions of MIDs as a problematic group, this study aimed at focussing on potentials. This was done through wide dissemination and communication of findings, a counter-narrative highlighting the opportunities inherent to multi-ethnic societies.
Combining contributions from migration studies and literature on IC, MIDIC aimed at analysing: A) how MD describe their IC and its development, B) whether they perceive it as an asset with value in the labour market, and C) whether employers consider IC as a resource.
MIDIC aimed at advancing the existing knowledge on IC and on MD social inclusion processes. Contrary to most relevant literature, that focuses on MIDs’ social disadvantage risking reinforcing popular constructions of MIDs as a problematic group, this study aimed at focussing on potentials. This was done through wide dissemination and communication of findings, a counter-narrative highlighting the opportunities inherent to multi-ethnic societies.
MIDIC was conducted at the Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS) of the University of Birmingham (UK), with a secondment at the Fondazione Mondinsieme in Reggio Emilia (IT). It represents a pioneering investigation that elaborated new concepts and methodological tools enabling future research on the intercultural competence (IC) of migrant descendants (MDs).
MIDIC drew on the work on IC developed by the Council of Europe.
It adopted a qualitative approach and compared the Italian and UK context. It firstly created a knowledge base through reviews of: A) Literature on the processes of social inclusion and multicultural identity development of MDs; B) Studies on the conditions of MDs in the labour market; C) Literature on IC. Secondly, through 45 semi-structured interviews and 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) with MD university students, it explored and systematised MD’s description of their IC components, development processes and gaps. Interviews were partly based on the Autobiography of Intercultural Encounters, an instrument built by the Council of Europe to promote the development of IC among young people.
Through 6 FGDs, MD university students discussed their perceptions of the potentials of their IC for career development and the labour market. Additionally, stakeholders of the labour market (including HR managers, company consultants, representatives of employers’ associations, of chambers of commerce, and of trade unions) discussed, through 6 FGDs, their attitudes to MD’s IC in work organizations. Data were collected both in the UK and Italy to analyse how different migration histories and different levels of opportunities for MD influence MD’s IC development and MD’s and employers’ perspectives about its utilisation. Data have been investigated through thematic analysis. Findings have been substantiated and diseminated via high quality scientific contributions published (and to be published) in peer reviewed journals
MIDIC drew on the work on IC developed by the Council of Europe.
It adopted a qualitative approach and compared the Italian and UK context. It firstly created a knowledge base through reviews of: A) Literature on the processes of social inclusion and multicultural identity development of MDs; B) Studies on the conditions of MDs in the labour market; C) Literature on IC. Secondly, through 45 semi-structured interviews and 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) with MD university students, it explored and systematised MD’s description of their IC components, development processes and gaps. Interviews were partly based on the Autobiography of Intercultural Encounters, an instrument built by the Council of Europe to promote the development of IC among young people.
Through 6 FGDs, MD university students discussed their perceptions of the potentials of their IC for career development and the labour market. Additionally, stakeholders of the labour market (including HR managers, company consultants, representatives of employers’ associations, of chambers of commerce, and of trade unions) discussed, through 6 FGDs, their attitudes to MD’s IC in work organizations. Data were collected both in the UK and Italy to analyse how different migration histories and different levels of opportunities for MD influence MD’s IC development and MD’s and employers’ perspectives about its utilisation. Data have been investigated through thematic analysis. Findings have been substantiated and diseminated via high quality scientific contributions published (and to be published) in peer reviewed journals
MIDIC combined contributions from literature on migration and on intercultural competence (IC) and advanced knowledge on migrant descendants (MDs) social inclusion and IC conceptualisation. It laid the theoretical and methodological basis for a new research area on MD’s IC. Additionally, it generated recommendations on how to best utilise the potential of MDs’ IC in work organisations and, through dissemination activities, raised awareness of the contribution that MD could make to society.
MIDIC has reached scholars, policymakers, labour market stakeholders (employers’ associations, chambers of commerce, HR managers, company’s consultants, and trade unions), IC practitioners (trainers, and NGOs working on intercultural issues), migrant/MD associations, and university students. Wide sharing of knowledge and awareness has promoted the exploitation of research outcomes for: A) Developing IC and integration theory, and furthering research on MD’s IC; B) Advancing knowledge on the potentials of MD’s IC for work organisations; C) sensitizing all stakeholders (particularly labour market representatives and MD), and wider society (particularly university students) on the value of MD’s IC.
Footnotes
https://www.coe.int/t/dg4/autobiography/default_en.asp
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147176722000360
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/superdiversity-institute/midic/index.aspx
https://twitter.com/Midic_IRiS
https://www.facebook.com/MIDIC-Project-119531246557786/?modal=admin_todo_tour
https://italicsmag.com
MIDIC has reached scholars, policymakers, labour market stakeholders (employers’ associations, chambers of commerce, HR managers, company’s consultants, and trade unions), IC practitioners (trainers, and NGOs working on intercultural issues), migrant/MD associations, and university students. Wide sharing of knowledge and awareness has promoted the exploitation of research outcomes for: A) Developing IC and integration theory, and furthering research on MD’s IC; B) Advancing knowledge on the potentials of MD’s IC for work organisations; C) sensitizing all stakeholders (particularly labour market representatives and MD), and wider society (particularly university students) on the value of MD’s IC.
Footnotes
https://www.coe.int/t/dg4/autobiography/default_en.asp
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147176722000360
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/superdiversity-institute/midic/index.aspx
https://twitter.com/Midic_IRiS
https://www.facebook.com/MIDIC-Project-119531246557786/?modal=admin_todo_tour
https://italicsmag.com