Migrants and minorities in Europe: implications for adult education and training policy

Abstract

During the 1980s, individual member state government policy and that of the eu as a whole began to emphasise integration and multiculturalism, often in an attempt to diffuse tensions resulting from continued hardship and unemployment amongst minority communities. Although this signalled a move away from former assimilation approaches, there remains an ambiguity in policies which now advocate highly restrictive border controls on the one hand, and integration for those already ‘in’ on the other. Criticisms levelled at the eu's inability to acknowledge inequalities within migrant communities in the field of vocational training have recently increased, particularly in discussions about post‐1992 harmonisation and the benefit, if any, open borders will have on such communities. Current provision aiming to right these wrongs is primarily emphasising the insertion or re‐insertion of individuals into the labour market. Attempts have been made to link vocational training courses to labour market opportunities. Po...