Transit zones and integration practice

On December 3, 2016, a symposium was held at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences on the topic: “Transit Zones and Integration Practices: The Long Journey from Initial Reception to a Successful Everyday Life in Germany.” This event examined the journey from refugees’ arrival at initial reception centers through the various stages until they are fully settled. The discussion focused on both “successful cases” and “unsuccessful cases,” as well as the decisive factors in each. Given the sometimes heated discussions surrounding a culture of welcome on the one hand and upper limits on refugee inflows on the other, the range of topics covered during the discussion—which continued well into the evening—was quite broad. 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 the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.

The substantive framework of the event was shaped by the speakers Jörg Heidig, Prof. Dr. Raj Kollmorgen, and Prof. Dr. Matthias Schmidt, who provided academic insights on the topics of displacement, migration, and integration. A first-hand account of daily practice from the director of a refugee shelter in Brandenburg served as a bridge to further discussion about successes and challenges. The symposium participants, drawing on their diverse experiences in the fields of administration, sociocultural work, and education, played a key role in shaping the event through their conversations and discussions. The lively participation made it clear that it remains important to provide a platform for exchanging experiences and discussing research approaches.

Following the success of this first event, there are plans to hold additional symposia on these and other topics in the future. The next event will take place on December 17, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences under the title “What Do You Want?” Together, we’ll ask ourselves, “Are you still collecting points for your resume, or are you already living your life?” We cordially invite everyone to join us in discussing these and other questions.