The City Slogan Is We Are All Viennese

AUSTRIA

While in Austria, there live 11% of immigrants out of the total population, in the capital city Vienna there lives one third of population of migration origin. The most common form of residence of immigrants in Austria is a long-term stay.

There is a difference between the national level immigration policy and integration policy on the local level which is to a great extent created independently with regard to the local situation. The municipal integration policy and praxis is thus the most important part of the integration process. Each city has its conceptual material which guides the integration policy and the policy in respect of diversity and participation of immigrants.

In Vienna, the local City Department of Integration and Diversity (MA17) serves as an intermediary between migrant organizations, NGOs and the city of Vienna and helps newcomers immigrants and foreigners with integration. MA 17 currently promotes integration of diversity-oriented policy, which means a greater shift from narrow understanding of integration.

The city slogan is "We are all Viennese".

Vienna has not special integration centers dedicated to foreigners. Cohabitation takes place in everyday life, on the streets, in schools, at public events etc.

Since 2008 MA17 came up with a new project "StartWien" which includes the language and orientation courses on daily life in Vienna such as integration at the labor market, housing, health, education, etc. The project has three pillars:

1) Startcoaching for new immigrants (focused on German language and finding a job)

2) Information Modules (socio-cultural information courses)

3) The second stage of the program Startcoaching (not only for the newcomers)

After graduating Startcoaching immigrant receives „Viennese educational passport“ (Wiener Bildungspass), in which there are recorded passed information modules and language courses which gives an indication about immigrant and his efforts to integrate into the Viennese daily life.

Website of MA17:

http://www.wien.gv.at/menschen/integration/