The impacts of the »Ausbildungsduldung« (Tolerated Stay for the Purpose of Vocational Education and Training) on the Educational Integration of Young Refugees: A Participatory and Longitudinal Study

• Applicant: Dr. Katharina Wehking
• Subject Area: Education Systems and Educational Institutions
• Term: from 2021 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 466396009

There is a broad consensus in (inter-)national research on »civic stratification« that the residence status plays a crucial role in the social and vocational positioning of refugees. At the moment, the residence status as a dimension of social inequality is further stressed by the so called »Ausbildungsduldung« (Tolerated stay for the purpose of vocational education and training). According to recent changes in law, it is possible for refugees to receive an »Ausbildungsduldung« for the duration of a qualified vocational training. For many refugees with unresolved residence status, there is a pronounced pressure of time to find a training position as fast as possible in order to secure their stay in Germany. Therefore, the perspective of the »Ausbildungsduldung« has a direct impact on their career choice. Thus, their career choice is often guided more by the fear of being deported and less by their interests or career aspirations. In addition, due to the legal conditions young refugees often enter into vocational education and training too early and therefore often show a lack of linguistic or professional preparation for starting a training position. Although there is yet little evidence of refugees dropping out of vocational education and training, there are some indications that even the highly motivated may drop out of training, because they do not (yet) meet the training requirements. For young people with an »Ausbildungsduldung«, a dropout could even lead to a loss of their residence status. Based on the current state of research, it remains to be seen how these heteronomous influences affect young people's training trajectories. The previous research perspective has been focused primarily on the transition to vocational education and training. The intended study now focuses on the subsequent educational path of young refugees: the course of vocational education and training. Thus, the question will be investigated to what extent the »Ausbildungsduldung« has an impact on the training trajectories of refugees. Since little research has been done on the newly constructed »Ausbildungsduldung«, the study follows a qualitative explorative design, that is participatory, longitudinal, and subject-oriented. The study aims at gathering the authentic perspectives of young refugees, since there is socially and scientifically often a discourse about the vocational integration of young refugees without involving them. The study follows the research style of grounded theory. The data gathering is conducted by problem-centred interviews with refugees in training positions in Lower Saxony and Bavaria. In order to emphasize the longitudinal and participatory character of the study, the research design is complemented by an innovative videovoice approach. In order to gather their own perspectives, the young refugees are asked to record aspects of their everyday training experiences in short videos over a period of five months by using their smartphones.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants