Increasing the Social Integration of Syrian Refugees in Turkey through Vocational Education and Training

Abstract

The increase in migration movements on a global scale since the 2000s has increased the importance of countries’ integration policies. Due to the flexible solutions it offers, vocational education and training (VET) has been a useful tool to ensure the adaptation of immigrants in many countries. Turkey currently hosts the largest amount of Syrian refugees with a population of around 3.9 million. Besides housing and health supports, Turkey has been doing its best to increase their schooling ratio in the light of new legislation and laws. In this study, we present and evaluate the VET projects carried out by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) for adaptation of Syrian refugees, considering the best practices and recommendations of international organizations. The results show that the MoNE projects correspond with international criteria by informing refugees about VET, preparing them for the educational process, facilitating their participation, and supporting them throughout their experiences.