Symposium on the topic: "Transit zones and integration practice".
On 03.12.2016, a symposium was held at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences on the topic: "Transit zones and integration practice. The long road from initial reception to successful everyday life in Germany". This event shed light on the path from the arrival of refugees in the initial reception center through the various stages to their arrival. The focus was on the "successful case" as well as the "unsuccessful case" and the decisive factors in each case. In view of the sometimes heated discussions about welcoming culture on the one hand and upper limits for the influx of refugees on the other, the range of the discussion was quite broad until well into the evening. The event was organized by the Institute for Communication, Information and Education (KIB e.V.) in cooperation with the Institute for Transformation, Housing and Social Spatial Development (TRAWOS) and the Faculty of Social Sciences at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.
The content of the event was accompanied by the speakers Jörg Heidig, Prof. Dr. Raj Kollmorgen and Prof. Dr. Matthias Schmidt with their scientific input on the topics of flight, migration and integration. A report from the daily practice of a manager of a refugee shelter in Brandenburg built the bridge to further discussions about successes and problems. The participants of the symposium significantly shaped the event with their diverse experiences from the fields of administration, socioculture and education through talks and discussions. The lively participation made it clear that it continues to be important to offer a platform for exchanging experiences and discussing research approaches.
After the first successful event format, there will be further symposia on these and other topics in the future. The next event will take place on 17.12.2016 at 10.00 a.m. at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences with the title "What do you want? ". Together we will ask the question "Are you still collecting points for your CV or are you already living?". We cordially invite everyone to discuss these and other questions together.