Seminar : Language and Integration Tests for Newcomers and Future Citizens

Radboud University Nijmegen

CPO-room A.00.09

Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Seminar

15 February 2008

Language and integration tests are a topical issue in various European Union Member States. Several Member States have introduced language and integration courses in their domestic legislation. Immigrants have to pass language and integration tests in order to prove that they have obtained a certain level of knowledge, sometimes even before entering the country. Though the modalities of the integration tests and courses vary between the Member States, the introduction of the tests reflects a change in ideas on the relationship between legal status and integration. Furthermore, there appears to be a trend in several Member States towards formalisation of the language and integration tests before naturalisation. Between 2002 and 2006, Austria, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, several German Länderand the UK introduced knowledge of the society as a condition for naturalisation. In certain Member States, the informal language test upon naturalisation has been recently replaced by a formalised test prepared and conducted by language institutions.

Since these developments are rather recent, little is known about the effects of the introduction of the formalised testing schemes on the behaviour of potential applicants and on the selective effects of those new tests. Whether the introduction of such new ways of testing has in fact contributed to the integration of immigrants in the host society, often the official aim of these policies, or whether the tests function as a mechanism for selection and exclusion is unknown. Knowledge of these effects is all the more relevant since the formalisation of the tests often coincided with a raise of the level of required knowledge of the language and of the host society (e.g. Denmark and some Länderin Germany) or with the introduction of other obstacles, such as high fees or a six months waiting period after a candidate has failed the test (e.g. Netherlands). The aim of the seminar is to exchange information concerning the reasons for introduction, the content and the effects of the language and integration tests. Experts from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia and the Netherlands will present a paper regarding the policies concerning the integration of newcomers and/or future citizens in their respective countries.

Download the full programm and the registration form at PDF format

Language and Integration Tests for Newcomers and Future Citizens