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unhappycamper

(60,364 posts)
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 07:43 AM Jun 2014

Immigration to Germany: 'Better Qualified than the Domestic Population'

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/interview-on-german-demographics-immigration-and-integration-a-973320.html



In recent years, Germany has begun attracting large numbers of highly qualified immigrants. Demographics expert Reiner Klingholz says that the development could be vital to the country's future, despite ongoing problems with integration.

Immigration to Germany: 'Better Qualified than the Domestic Population'
Interview by Maximilian Popp
June 05, 2014 – 01:15 PM



SPIEGEL: Mr. Klingholz, in your study "New Potential," which was presented on Tuesday, you point to a paradox: Even as Germany becomes a country of immigration, many problems relating to integration remain unsolved.

Klingholz: German companies are now attracting immigrants who are, on average, better qualified than the domestic population. In 2010, more than a third of the immigrants from Southern Europe were university graduates. They are making significant contributions to the good state of our economy. Those who came to Germany as guest workers in past decades generally had few qualifications. That means that today, these people frequently have poorly paid jobs, no work at all or low pensions. In addition, their children are often educationally disadvantaged. Only one in four children of Turkish immigrants graduates with a diploma from a university prep high school (eds. note: Gymnasium). Among children of native parents, the rate is 43 percent.

SPIEGEL: Why do children and grandchildren of Turkish immigrants have such a difficult time in school and on the labor market?

Klingholz: Across the entire German population, the educational level of the parents has an immense influence on their children's success in school. As such, it is no surprise that children of Turkish guest-worker families are among those that have the most difficulties. In addition, such households have often had negative experiences when it comes to integration. They are discriminated against on the job market due to their backgrounds, even if they have the necessary qualifications. The result is often the attitude: Even with more education we won't be able to climb the social ladder.
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Immigration to Germany: 'Better Qualified than the Domestic Population' (Original Post) unhappycamper Jun 2014 OP
Yes, many eastern european immigrants have university degrees, but are they valid? DetlefK Jun 2014 #1

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
1. Yes, many eastern european immigrants have university degrees, but are they valid?
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 08:03 AM
Jun 2014

Are those degrees worth the paper they are printed on? Plagiarism and outright bribery are rampant in eastern european universities and it's really not that tricky to buy a degree from a professor.

Anecdote:
My grandfather was in hospital a few months ago for a check, accompanied by an uncle. The doctor was from Romania and as my family is also of eastern european descent, my uncle started to chat with her. He gave off a throwaway-compliment how the romanians have good doctors. THE ROMANIAN DOCTOR stopped him cold in the tracks and warned him that she knows lots of romanian colleagues who are unqualified because they got their degrees through bribery.

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