Topic 1 Presentation of best practice in Romania and discussion, main takeaways, key elements to adopt
- A good practice is not only a practice that is good, but a practice that has been proven to work well and produce good results, and is therefore recommended as a model.
- The local stakeholders in Romania have different areas of connection with TCNs. From psycho-social support and services, to education opportunities, labour integration, or legal advice, the Romanian stakeholders are actively addressing TCNs’ needs in their development strategies.
- For example, the representatives of the Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB, Cluj) partnered with UNHCR in a project focused on enrolling refugees in higher education programs, offering as well scholarships as a mean of financial support. In addition, UBB and UNHCR offer scholarships for Master students that are researching the topics of migrants and refugees integration. Erasmus + and international exchanges for foreign students are other examples of how UBB is addressing TCNs’ right to education.
- The Technical University of Cluj-Napoca has different partnerships with private companies; students can apply for internships tailored on their major.
- The Romanian National Council of Refugees (CNRR) has an ongoing activity on labour market and judicial services for refugees; the Council works in close collaboration with different private companies where they can recommend their beneficiaries.
- The Romanian National Council for Refugees Foundation (CNRR) is a non-governmental organization established in 1998, with public utility status since 2003.
- The mission of CNRR is to promote and defend by all legal means human rights in general and the rights of migrants, refugees and of asylum seekers in particular. CNRR offers social assistance and legal consultancy services within its specialized departments.
- Here you can find details about CNRR and how to contact them to ask about their programs and how to collaborate and engage in these programs: (Viesparilor Street, no. 19, floor 2, sector 2, Bucharest, Romania +4 021 312 62 10, +4 031 405 02 75, office@cnrr.ro)
Description of the Good Practice
An initiative of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency launched in 2020 the pilot programme „UNHCR Research Scholarships”. Through this programme, UNHCR aims to stimulate the academic interest in topics related to forced displacement, refugees, asylum and statelessness. This initiative is addressed to final year masters students from three leading Romanian universities, UNHCR partners (West University of Timisoara, National University of Political and Administrative Studies, and Babeș-Bolyai University). The main aim of this programme is to increase the existing empirical data on refugees in Romania by financially supporting young researchers that are interested in the topic of refugees inclusion and wellbeing in Romania.
An initiative by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR together with different partner universities in Romania. The aim of the scholarships is to ensure that 15 percent of young refugee women and men can access the benefits of higher education by the year 2030 by supporting them financially through the whole process of education. This initiative was launched in 2020.
Currently CDMiR is a project developed by the Romanian National Council for Refugees Foundation in partnership with the Centre for Public Innovation and the Novapolis Association, bringing together 23 non-governmental organizations and 5 supporters from the academic environment and international organizations. CDMiR is the only Civil Society Coalition in Romania active in the field of migration, asylum and integration. CDMiR members cover a wide range of areas of expertise, including research, advocacy, material, legal and medical assistance, guidance and intercultural dialogue.
To learn more about CDMiR and its activities, visit www.cdmir.ro
- Developed by ARCA-Romanian Forum for Refugees and Migrants (ARCA-FRRM) together with the Organization Development Association – SAH ROM (ADO SAH ROM) and Soros Foundation Romania, non-governmental organizations focused on promoting the respect of human rights in a free, responsible and diverse society.
- The guidebook is available in several languages, including, Arabic, English, Romanian, French, Turkish and Chinese.
- Here you can access the guidebook in different languages.
- The information guide’s objective is to improve knowledge about the rights, obligations and opportunities of integration as a foreigner staying in Romania, facilitating active participation in economic, social and cultural life of the host country.
- Through information regarding rights and obligations, responsibilities and attributions of public institutions and social protection system in Romania, complaint resolution, forms of association, employment market, employment services, the guide helps to improve TCNs chances to effectively exercise these rights, to prevent and combat social exclusion and discrimination at work, to increase mobility and to indicate ways of active participation in the community life.
Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/431759860/docl-17678-489849174, http://www.mmuncii.ro/j33/images/Documente/Munca/MobilitateaForteiDeMunca/ghid%20Bun%20venit%20in%20Romania%20in%20limba%20engleza.pdf
- Developed by PATRIR Romania, in partnership with Cluj-Napoca City Hall (owner of the platform), IOM Romania, Work&Roll, Voluntariat pel Valencia, CoachConnect, Asociatia Cluster de Educatie C-EDU.
- An online platform dedicated to foreign citizens in Cluj, where a core of essential services that foreigners might need is centralized and available in most frequent foreign languages.
- The platform was created as part of the Cluj Integration Strategy, an activity developed through the project European Pact for Integration (EPI) funded by the European Commission, AMIF programme under grant agreement Nº 863614.
- The platform offers information covering institutional, legal and administrative aspects, but also housing, residence rights, health services, employment, career coaching etc.
- The platform will be fully functional starting with 2023.
Source: https://www.welcometocluj.ro
- One of the largest restaurant chains in Bucharest, established in 2004, started to hire TCNs in 2017.
- By 2019, 10% of their employees were TCNs (origin countries: Nepal, Nigeria, Iraq, Republic of Moldova).
- The company has designed professionals who are in permanent contact with the TCN employees, aiming to facilitate their integration process.
Source: Mirage – Handbook of Best Practices. The Professional Inclusion of Third Country Nationals (2019), p. 22-23: https://www.mirageproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mirage-handbook_EN.pdf
- Established in 1995 in Ilfov, by a Turkish citizen, SC Karema Fruct SRL sells fruits and vegetables in Romania
- By 2019, 10% of their employees were TCNs (origin countries: Egypt, Turkey, Republic of Moldova).
- The company is owned by a TCN, so the newly arrived TCN employees receive the best support and advice for integration.
Source: Mirage – Handbook of Best Practices. The Professional Inclusion of Third Country Nationals (2019), p. 38-39: https://www.mirageproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mirage-handbook_EN.pdf
- Established in 2008 in Bucharest, Ateliere fără Frontiere (AFF) is non-profit organization promoting the social, professional and civic insertion of vulnerable, excluded and marginalized persons.
- AFF created three social insertion enterprises through economic activity, focused on offering support services, counselling for insertion, psychotherapy, pedagogical and training support for persons facing difficulties in labour market integration (long-term unemployment, addictions, disabilities, school dropout, domestic violence, human trafficking, probation, custodial sentences, lack of housing etc.).
- Starting with March 2022, AFF offered job opportunities for Ukrainians fleeing the war (Romanian language not mandatory).
- The job announcement is available both in Romanian and Ukrainian.
- Each year, the Romanian Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provides a number of scholarships to citizens from non-EU countries. Only candidates having good results in education, respectively an average of the study years for the last graduated school of at least 7 (seven) corresponding to the scoring system in Romania or the “Good” score, as the case are eligible.
- For further details regarding the eligibility conditions, please check Information on the Scholarship Programme.
- Applicants may select their study program of interest in all fields, with the exception of Medicine, Dental Medicine and Pharmacy. For Bachelor and Master, only study programs in Romanian language are available, thus promoting the Romanian language and culture. However, at PhD level, applicants can also opt for a program in English or a foreign language set by the doctoral school.
- A preparatory year in Romanian is also granted prior to enrolling in the study program of choice, for those who do not speak the Romanian language.
- Each year, the Transylvania University of Brașov, provides a number of scholarships to citizens from non-EU countries.
- Aim to attract international students to study at Transylvania University and to form a group of “Ambassadors” of Transylvania University and thereby increase the international visibility of its institution.
- The scholarship is awarded for the full attendance of bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree studies to candidates accepted for studies at Transylvania University.
- For further details regarding the eligibility conditions, please check the Information on the Scholarship Programme.
Source: https://tas.unitbv.ro/
- 40 scholarships are offered every year by the Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Tourism to non-EU citizens interested in enrolling in a Romanian-taught study programme (one year for the study of the Romanian language is included in the scholarship) at BA, MA or PhD level.
- Studies in the fields of business and economics, agriculture, medicine, oil and gas, and technology are given priority, although all study fields are eligible for funding.
- The scholarship includes a tuition fee waiver, free-of-charge accommodation and a monthly allowance. International and local transport, as well as daily expenses will be covered by the scholarship holder.
