Education is Crucial that Immigrants should Realize for Better Lives and Society Welfare
Abstract
In the current educated world, education is considered as a key aspect to get the right direction for careers and a bright future. This study is developed for the purpose of addressing the problematic issue facing by immigrant people (refugees) to understand the fundamental importance of education in a welfare society. In concern to achieve this objective, this research study has focused on the effective things related to education for immigrants in Sweden as the realization of education’s importance for immigrants in concern to their careers. For this, we have emphasized on the reasons behind less interest of immigrant youth in education in Sweden. In order to get success, an immigrant can focus on education in developing their professional life and get reputed job or business with developed career. Moreover, we also focused on the significance of minimizing the disparity between immigrant and native-born people in Sweden. Similarly, the ways of avoiding educational segregation for improving the awareness in working also concentrated by us for immigrant and non-immigrant together in the same community. In order to conduct this research study, we have developed an interview with some student, teacher and guardians and taken their views about the Swedish education system. The results and analysis part of this research has provided effective outcomes of the study. The finding of the study revealed that educational segregation and disparity between immigrant and non-immigrant should be reduced as well as to improve the awareness of working together in the same society.
Contents
Research Aim and Objectives 8
Literature Review- Theoretical Framework 16
Sample 19
Discussion 30
Conclusion 30
References 32
Appendix 34
Introduction
Sweden is a well-known country for its multiculturalism. Not a single country in Europe is taking more immigrants (refugees) per capita than Sweden. So it is important for the country to provide enough education to this large number of people for their better future as well as welfare society. Sweden is one of the countries which intent to accommodate immigrants that intend to study and work, but it is quite difficult for immigrants to secure jobs or even or even jobs that related to their educational background. Because, the political, socio-cultural, and economic aspects of the immigration have created/ caused controversial issues regarding economic benefits, job opportunities for immigrants, ethnicity, settlement patterns, voting behaviours, and social mobility (Nienhusser, 2015). Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
The research study will describe in details about the immigrant history focusing mostly on refugees in Sweden, the immigration purpose of education/ employment/ business, opportunities, and challenges to immigrant’s higher education and strategies to deal with the challenges. Good quality of education in Sweden from the schools, colleges, educational institutes, and training centres can help to enable those immigrants to lead better lives with the improvement of their lifestyles and better living standards from the social mobility and respect from the society individuals (Hadjisoteriou, Faas, and Angelides, 2015).
Background
Sweden has experienced a huge number of refugees who arrived in the country in 2015. The percentage of taking immigrants is more in Sweden than in any other country in Europe. The population is also increased. So it’s become an important issue to educate these huge amounts of immigrant people. But the immigrants’ population has less interest in higher education and better employment. About 40 of the total immigrants in Sweden have higher education (OCED, 2014). There is no doubt that multiculturalism has become a common topic in most of the European countries, notably in Sweden. This multiculturalism, ethnic variety and immigrant’s welfare have become a focused topic for academic, political, social and general public commentators.
Although Sweden is one of the active countries advocating for fair opportunity and equal right for all individuals in the society including equal opportunity in housing, education, health care, daily activities and political rights, one of the major challenges faced by the Swedish administration is providing fair labour opportunities to all individuals particularly for immigrants (OECD, 2015; Galgoczi, Leschke, & Watt, 2009). But in the educational sector, Swedish immigrant experienced the worst position, which impacts on the labour market and welfare society. There is some discrimination in the Swedish educational system employment for which immigrant people show less interest in higher education. All higher education is free for EU citizen and Swedish citizen. But Asylum seekers are not eligible for the free university education until they are not recognized as refugees. (Swedish Migration Agency).
It’s mostly happened that new student from struck in a separate system of introductory classes, language and different educational system. They are in need of encouragement in the new system and can feel the same feelings of other students. Other obstacles frequently identified in recent research for both elementary and upper-secondary education forms are inadequate local implementations of well-intended governmental policies; lack of certain teacher categories and properly educated teachers able to work in multicultural environments and with a language development strategy; inadequate support structures (resources, holistic school approach, and collaboration); lack of space caused by the sudden arrival of large numbers of refugee students; uneven allocation of newly arrived among municipalities and schools, and; lack of scientifically grounded research results that can inform practice and decision-making; physical segregation and social exclusion (see Bunar, 2015a; Jahanmahan and Bunar, 2017; Nilsson Folke, 2017; Migration and Education in Sweden: Integration of Migrants in the Swedish School Education and Higher Education Systems NESET II ad hoc question No. 3/2017 By Prof. Nihad Bunar, Stockholm University.
There are many findings that youth immigrants are mostly involved in criminal activities because of the school segregation and an increasing achievement gap between citizen and immigrant students. Many students end up study in a dominant immigrant school in socially deprived neighbourhoods in large cities or small municipalities. In the last four years, about 48,000 unaccompanied minors have applied for asylum in Sweden. The majority are boys, 15 to 17 years old, from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Eritrea and Morocco. However, there are only very few unaccompanied minors who graduate from a national upper-secondary program (Skolverket, 2017b, Skolinspektionen, 2017a).
Sweden faces a serious problem in the labour market for the lack of suitable employment with better qualification. So it’s essential for the economic and welfare society to improve immigrants’ educational qualifications, academic experiences, provide the knowledge of social and cultural codes and reduce the disparity between immigrants and native-born students.
The most number of people migrates to Sweden to get better economic status from better job positions and career development from better educational opportunities. Almost 40 of 100 immigrants in Sweden are there for getting higher education for their better professional career (Hadjisoteriou, Angelides, and Faas, 2015).
There is a not better position to the immigrants in the Swedish conditions in the way some extent of discrimination in some educational universities, colleges, or academic institutions for favouring the residents of Sweden as well as preferring the Swedish students to get employment and then after to immigrant students. All higher education, immigrants are free from the Swedish and EU citizenship except the asylum seekers (not regarded as refugees and not eligible to get free education). Some of the immigrant students face problems from the separate classes for them because of the language barriers and the system of educational differences. Some issues are identified by the lack of sufficient teaching staffs, inadequate space not enough to cover a large number of immigrant students in a classroom, and not adequate science laboratories, scientific measures, and instruments for science students immigrating to Sweden(Dunlavy, Garcy, and Rostila, 2016).
Research Aim and Objectives
The main aim or purpose of this research assignment is to identify and address the issue of educational development of the immigrants in the order of realizing them the importance of the education in their lives and the social and economic welfare of the societies. The thesis addresses the issue of the fundamental importance of education for immigrant people in a welfare society. There will be following objectives,
- To investigate the reason with evidence of less interest in the education of immigrant youth.
- To find out the importance of reducing the disparity between immigrant and native-born people.
- To find out the way to avoid educational segregation and the way to improve awareness for immigrant and non-immigrant in working together in the community.
The following research objectives are prepared to accomplish or meet the aim of the research:-
Research Objectives-
- To identify the necessity or importance of education for immigrant youths or students
- To find out the obstacles or barriers to immigrants in their higher level of education in the multiculturalism environment of Sweden
- To identify the opportunities from education to these immigrants for their better lives and contributing to the social welfare of the Nordic country, Sweden (Bergnehr, 2016)
- Recommendations to reduce the disparity among the migrants and immigrants and ways to increase awareness of the immigrant students or youths for completing their required level of education
Objective 2.1: Realization of the importance of Education to Immigrants in their careers
According to Cahil and Taft (2017), Education is more important to the immigrant people as it enables the social mobility to these people for getting the bright career opportunities as well as being respected in the societies for their bright future and better lifestyles. Clahil and Taft (2017) also claim that the immigrants in the context of Sweden country should realize the importance of the education for them in making their future bright with a lot of opportunities to grow their career, gaining the respect in the societies, and communication while living together with the local individuals there. They should educate them better for spending better quality of lives in the way that the professional growth is ensured, respect for the social status is gained and communication with others in an effective manner (Cahil and Taft, 2017). It is also supported by the quote given by Malcolm X that “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today”.
Hadjisoteriou, Angelides, and Faas (2015) reflect from their scholar studies that immigrants in Swedish country are needed to recognize the significance of the education for guiding their career, coordinating with the local people, and to be respected from others into a country wherein the native people are against them and neglect the immigrants. The immigrants normally leave their home country for better/ more opportunities for their career development, professional growth, and better quality of lifestyles; for getting all these, the education is more important and plays the key role for the own development and achievement of the career goals. The high quality of education with the standard scores in the professional degrees of the immigrant student can give them new opportunities to find better jobs for good job positions in the reputed organizations.
From the views of Spring (2017), it’s better for immigrants to give priority on completing their education in the order of gaining knowledge, developing professional skills, and increased abilities to get a job or business development in a better position. For teenage immigrants or middle-aged immigrants in Swedish conditions, it is not quite late to go back to school or college for gaining more knowledge. For example, the immigrant students with the bachelor’s degree may go with the option of attending college to continue education for completing their master degree with the certification that will create more chances of their successful career (Spring, 2017). Similarly, the immigrant students with non-bachelor certification need to continue their education in the migrant place and conditions there to continue their bachelor degree to get educated and however, more job opportunities to those immigrants.
Renee Zellweger also quoted that “Academics were important to my parents, as Immigrants. Education is where it all begins”. Education plays an important role in the integration of immigrants. It is because proper education can assist immigrants to settle in a new country and also adapt to new surroundings. Simply, education includes all things as the learning of another country’s language immigrants are in all the way of receiving recognition for their qualification. Educated immigrants will get known for what they do. Some of the immigrants know the education’s importance as a key to immigrant integration where they make an effort to get the education they need on their own. However, there are many immigrants who do not recognize how important it is for these people to get a proper education or where to find it for that matter. Education is more important in areas like Sweden than the actual employment as the people who have the competencies and skills just like others, and they deserve an equal chance of getting back into the labour market as professional in their specific action field. The social exclusion can be a result of not getting proper education for the immigrants and get fail to achieve fast and effective integration.
Objective 2.2: Problems, Issues, and Challenges in gaining or completing education in an immigrant location
From the statements of Banks (2017), it is identified that it is important for the immigrants to take their education seriously to get the advantage of the opportunities in the term of professional growth, career development, and quality lives in the professional landscape of another country. But there are several complexities/ problems and challenges that immigrants/ students can face in their immigration to a new destination, like Sweden because of the neglects from the local people there as well as discriminating behaviours and prejudiced attitudes from some of the local residents there. From the views of Banks (2017), in other geographical context or immigration location, the immigrants often face or may face the language barriers, cultural barriers, discrimination based on localities and demographic differences. Jase Antonio Vorgas quoted that “A broken immigration system means broken families and broken lives”. In other geographical contexts or immigration locations, the immigrants often face or may face language barriers, cultural barriers, discrimination based on localities and demographic differences. The diverse cultural background can create some problems while the immigrants are focusing on continuing their study (Banks, 2017).
From the research of Lind and Persdotter (2017), it is identified that the immigrants in the workplace culture of Swedish can face some issues because of the lack of adequate teaching staffs in some categories. Some other issues include the lack of community schools or trust-based educational foundations in Sweden, the uneven allocation of schools/ colleges, the arrival of a large number of refugees in Sweden, and improper educational planning and insufficient policies for the education of the immigrants (Lind and Persdotter, 2017). The issue, like the introduction of a separate education system in the Swedish conditions, may affect the low morale and self-confidence of the immigrants. The lack of well-educated or qualified teaching staffs in the multiculturalism educational environment creates difficulties for the immigrants in their aim to get the education.
Some of the local Swedish students in the Swedish conditions can be seen or found involved in the discriminating behaviours with the spirit of jealousy and neglects for insulting the immigrants. The cultural barriers may enforce the immigrants to follow the local customs, tradition, and educational policies that may be different from the traditions, customs, cultural rituals, and educational system of the home conditions (Bank, 2017). Additionally, the language barrier because of differences in the local Swedish language and the language of immigrants from different countries can create the communication problems or gap while interacting or communicating with each other in the same classrooms. The main problem that mainly hinders immigrants’ people from furthering their education is the fear to learn or speak a new language publicly. The poor language skills and low education will probably result in low pay as well as often unsteady jobs. So, it is important to tackle the language barrier as the initial step towards something better that may lead immigrants to take many courses and definitely influence them in pursuing a degree.
Bhatnagar (2017) asserted that immigrant students could face problems in responding to the cultural rituals and in adapting to a new education system in the immigration educational level. Additionally, there is a challenge for them to work in the diverse environmental conditions, putting their interests in the study with concentration, and developing professionally after completing education. Additionally, the tough competition from the local students in the school education or college studies of the immigration country can also pose great challenges to them for their study programs. Furthermore, Bhatnagar (2017) explained that the multiple forms of the communication in the school classrooms, the demand of the standardized testing in the schools, community conflicts, socio-emotional needs of the immigrant students, and regional specific policies may create the real-life challenges to the immigrants in their educational programs (Bhatnagar, 2017).
The research studies by Wrench (2017) review that the poverty is another challenge for the immigrants from poor countries to get a higher level of education because of their unaffordability to bear the higher costs of the expensive higher level of educational studies. Poverty is a major issue that prevents many immigrants from striving for an education. In the life of the impoverished immigrant people, the struggle to shelter or food often leaves not only their desires but also the chances for completing the school education. For example, the indigenous people or minorities who are from poor financial backgrounds find themselves unable to complete the school education because of their inabilities to afford the costs of the education. The immigrants or refugees are more likely to search the business or job opportunities as soon as possible instead of involving them in the educational programs or studies because these immigrants are more needed the income opportunities to earn money for supporting their families (Wrench, 2016).
Objective 3.3: Opportunities for Immigrants in getting success from the Education
In the opinions of Warman, Goldmann, and Sweetman (2015), Education is crucial for the immigrants’ and refugees for becoming their life successfully as well as inspiring them for achieving their career goals from completing their education in the required level. Immigrants in Swedish conditions can move their career toward the professional achievement and growth from completing the education with standard (merit or distinction scores) level that will lead them to their higher chances of the success in the professional career. The education is must for the immigrants to live the personal lives or support the families for gaining a good social status, and quality life with standards of living in Swedish communities. Education is mainly important for immigrants and sometimes can be compulsory. It is important for having a college education for obtaining a well-paying job or still getting a call back from the prospective company’s employer. A bachelor’s degree is also even required for many entry-positions. Thus, an advanced school education assists in reducing the poverty probability and increasing opportunities for immigrants. Moreover, the immigrants can also inspire their own children for the educational accomplishment for developing the professional skills and abilities in their educational careers (Warman, Sweetman, and Goldmann, 2015).
Dollmann (2017) views that by completing the education in Sweden by the immigrant students or mature immigrant individuals, they can expect for a better professional career for employing at good positions and quality life to support their families. From their higher level of educational development, immigrants can expect attractive salary packages or higher income levels in Sweden that are not available in their home countries (Dollmann, 2017). So, the immigrants may realize the necessity of education in their lives to become the more respected person, lead quality and successful lives, and help the welfare of the societies in Sweden from the educated people. It is supported by US president James Madison’s inspiring quote that “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives”. Dollmann (2017) further asserted that the immigrant students, individuals or families in the Swedish societies should show their willingness and interests to increased efforts toward getting an education for their better lives and standards of living. The education is more important in creating the social, educational, and professional identity of the immigrate individuals in Sweden who has left their home country in the expectation of getting more opportunities, earning more income from their professional working in the reputed companies, and gaining regards, respect, and self-esteem in the societies.
According to Schwartz and Palviainen (2016), the immigrants currently residing in Sweden need to focus on their career from the education that may help them in making a big name in the country and reputation in the societies. By continuing their education, the immigrants can improve their knowledge with a good understanding of theories and concepts relevant to their educational stream and moreover, the promotional job opportunities for their bright future and better living in the societies with standards.
Moreover, Hadjisoteriou et al., (2015) assert that Sweden can take action to educate immigrants by utilizing many different methods. For educating immigrants, the most common way is online training. The different organizations in Sweden can create and initiate E-learning programs that able for providing immigrants with opportunities on entrepreneurship where the immigrants will be able for building a new life for themselves by using their own competencies and skills. The promotion of this kind of learning method is important for Sweden’s cultural and social development. The immigrant’s influx is reality, so it must be treated as the opportunity, not as an issue. Immigrants will easily get integrated into the Sweden system by having the right educational methods, and Sweden will have only encouraging things to gain from something like that.
Objective 4: Recommendations for Encouraging the Migrants to get the education in the immigrant destination
Andersson and Persson (2015) recommend that the immigrants in Sweden should inspire or encourage themselves to get involved in a higher level of school education for getting the definite success in the diverse cultural conditions in the adoptive one. The immigrant families living in Swedish societies should also encourage their own children to complete the school education for affecting their future lives personally and professionally. The educational development of immigration will decrease the social security shortfall and will increase Nordic welfare from the changes in the current state or level in Sweden (Andersson and Persson, 2015). Here this statement by Andresson and Persson( (2015) can show the importance of education for immigrants on Swedish society. The immigrant children in Sweden can get primary school education for the development, grown, and knowledge gain, the youths to get the graduate/ post-graduate school college education in Sweden for the career development from job opportunities, and the promotional opportunities for the existing migrant professionals from their higher level of studies in the engineering, science, accounting, management, marketing, hospitality, nursing, and many others.
Björklund, Björklund, and Sjöholm, (2017) suggest that the immigrants or refugees in Sweden should continue their studies for higher education to get more job opportunities in the healthcare sector, hospitality, engineering, medical/ nursing, marketing, finance, and accountant sectors for their brilliant future and contributing toward the welfare of the local communities/ societies to change Nordic welfare state. The welfare of Sweden societies can be determined by improving the employment conditions of the labour market in these societies by encouraging the child education of the immigrants that will assist in preventing the child labours. The employment conditions in Sweden can also be improved from the equal employment opportunities to the immigrants similar to local Swedish individuals based on the educational qualification and level of professional knowledge (Björklund, Björklund, and Sjöholm, 2017). The multiculturalism educational environment of Sweden country supports the respect to the immigrants who come from the diverse cultural backgrounds; these immigrants can be motivated to take advantage of the multiculturalism workplace for equal access to education and then equal employment opportunities for their future.
From the opinions of Lind and Persdotter (2017), the education councils and educational institutions in Sweden should find out the ways of avoiding the educational segregation and increasing awareness of both immigrants and migrants both getting education together by coordinating with each other. The provision of adequate and quality teaching staffs, reducing costs for the various vocational and non-vocational educational courses and provision of trust-based schools/colleges / educational institutions for lesser costs or free of cost in the local communities or societies in Sweden, may be effective in ensuring more immigrant individuals (children, youths) or families being educated (Lind and Persdotter, 2017). So, providing education from the Swedish educational system will be important in improving the economic conditions and social life experiences of the immigrants for contributing toward and welfare of the immigration societies in Sweden. Moreover, the government of Sweden must rebuild its several policies that purposed at improving education for Immigrants. The rebuilding policy must focus on the idea that no children should ever be left behind both within as well as outside of schools that will seek to improve the education for all the kids, including immigrants. For achieving such success, immigrant parents should be involved in the academic affairs of their children and students should be taught by ‘highly qualified teachers’. For supporting this, Pope Francis quoted that “Teaching is a beautiful job; as it allows you to see the growth day by day of people entrusted to your care. It is a little like being parents, at least spiritually. It is a great responsibility.”
Lind and Persdotter (2017) further advise for a Higher Education System in Sweden will also assist in improving the educational qualifications of the immigrants, their better academic experiences, good social understanding and cultural knowledge for more job opportunities. The integration of the educational system in Sweden will also assist in reducing disparities between the local Swedish people or migrants and immigrants for their education and professional working together in the same landscape.
Literature Review-Theoretical Framework
A theoretical framework is important to understand the research data as well as the entire investigation. Theories are formulated to investigate, explain, understand and predict phenomenon. Without theories, it will be difficult to study any sector of social sciences as they are essential in the formulation of the research object and specify data collection.
This research paper provides a framework within which social phenomenon in Sweden related to refugees educational behaviour can be found and understood. Therefore the research can illustrate the difficulties and challenges that immigrants face in Sweden, particularly getting a higher education and better employment.
The theoretical framework of this research paper based on three theories is Theory of cultural discrimination theory, welfare society.
Theory of Discrimination
To measure the existence and extent of discrimination of a particular kind in a particular social and economic domain, it is necessary to have a theory of how such discrimination might occur or what its effect might be. The theory is for analyzing data and the assumptions that the data and analysis must be satisfied in order to support a finding of discrimination. Here in this study, researchers use the theory to find out the discrimination in getting higher education of immigrant’s people in different level of society in Sweden.
Multiculturalism Theory
Multiculturalism is a manner in which society deals with cultural diversity. Multiculturalism expresses the view that society is enriched by preserving, respecting and encouraging cultural diversity. Sweden is internationally renowned as one of the most prominent representatives of the multicultural policy. Immigrants and ethnics minorities enjoy a relatively high level of economic and social security, which is better than any other European country. Immigrants and refugees marked as economic, social and cultural resources, especially where there is a shortage of manpower in the Swedish Labor market. This new ‘multicultural’ aim guided the introduction of new reforms, including support for journals produced in immigrant languages, mother-tongue instruction in the public school system and financial support for ethnic organisations. Immigrants were promised active state support ‘to retain their own language, develop their own cultural activities and maintain contact within their original country, in the same way as the majority population is able to preserve and develop its language and its cultural traditions’ (SOU 1974SOU, 1974:69.[Google Scholar]:69 italics added).22. SOU (Statens Offentlig Utredningar) refers to Swedish Government Official Reports. View all notes In another formulation; it was even stated that the so-called freedom of choice objective implied that immigrants should ‘have the opportunity to choose between their own ethnic affiliation and the Swedish majority culture’ (SOU 1974SOU, 1974. [Google Scholar]:69; Government Bill, 1975/76:26
Welfare State Integration
Sweden started to promote immigrants’ integration into Swedish Labor Market. In the 1970s, the fundamental idea of the Swedish model for immigrants’ integration that emerged general ‘Integration logic’ of the welfare state was valid also for immigrants and their families. After post-war, the Swedish welfare state was promoted that the integration project itself the overall national identity. (Boveri 2002). According to T.H. Marshall’s seminal citizenship theory, the Swedish welfare state was based on the idea that allocation of certain citizenship rights – particularly important among them being social rights to a decent standard of living – played a key role in promoting integration and fostering a sense of belonging in the national community. It was now extended to the immigrant population. Access to equal rights was regarded as a necessary condition for their integration into Swedish society and was simultaneously required so as not to undermine the universal character of the system.( Borevi 2010,2012)
Methodology
Research Design
There are three types of research design such as qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research design that are used for collecting the research information and data by the researcher. The quantitative research method is a project that includes large sample sizes, concentrating on the quantity response, as opposed to gain the additional emotional or focused insight that is the qualitative research aim. The qualitative research design is a social science research type that gathers and works with non-numerical information and that seeks to interpret meaning from this information that assists in understanding social life throughout the study of targeted places or populations (Creswell & Poth, 2017). In this research study, the researcher used a qualitative research design for evaluating the accurate outcomes of the research topic. A research method focuses on analyzing, gathering, and qualitative data in a particular study. This study employed the use of in-depth face-to-face interviews. The technique of in-depth face-to-face interviews was used in capturing the narratives. The researcher in this study conducted a semi-structured interview with every participant. A semi-structured interview guide with classified and open-ended questions was used during the process of interview with all participants. Such a method allows participants to give more details or elaborate on their responses and the researcher to gain more authentic and reliable responses (Bryman, 2007). It was also used in order to provide more opportunity and freedom of choice to the participants so that they can fully express and share their own feelings and understanding without limitations. Ruane (2005, p. 146) stated that “promoting understanding and getting at the truth”.
Sample
In terms of research, a sample is a group of persons, items, or object that are taken from the highest population for measurements. In the research, the sample must be representative of the population to make sure that the researcher can generate the findings from the research sample to the population as totally. The sampling is completed in the research study to be able to produce the right outcomes. The sample is a subset of the population one is studying that is chosen for the real study of research (Gentles et al., 2015). The main reason of research sampling is to find a representative sample to avoid bias. It is a method that permits the researcher to infer data or information regarding a population-based on outcomes from a population subset, without having to investigate all people.
Below are questions that are taken from the interview:
| Q1. | What are Opportunities for immigrants from different countries to learn the Swedish language and to study overall? |
| Q2. | What problems and challenges do the immigrants face in getting educational services or studying in Swedish culture? |
| Q3. | Are there sufficient teaching faculties with enough tutors to educate or teach immigrants in Sweden? |
| Q4. | Are there enough resources for the educational study of the immigrants? |
| Q5. | How and what is the possibility to choose schools for getting education by immigrant affecting the situation? |
| Q6. | How are the strategic plans to observe that immigrants want to study? |
| Q7. | How will the immigrants adapt themselves to new conditions of Swedish Culture? |
| Q8. | How getting an education or studying in the Swedish environment will assist in gaining respect, professionalism, and better lifestyles? |
| Q9. | What strategies or policies should immigrants adapt to get success in education by addressing all problems, issues, or challenges for them? |
| Q10. | In what way the immigrants would be able to exploit the opportunities in the foreign conditions of Sweden while there is a high level of competition from the local migrants? |
Data collection
In this research study, the researcher selected both methods of primary and secondary methods of data collection are used to accomplish this research study more effectively. For the primary data, the researcher selected the students and teachers from the schools of Gymnasium and Karolinska Institute by conducting an interview to get their opinion and viewpoint for the research topic. In addition, some guardians of immigrant students at Jacoksberg Kommun and Stockholm are also selected to conduct the interview. In order to plan and carry out the study, a research proposal was developed that developed the understanding of this research. For selecting the participants, the affected participants are identified that students, teachers, and guardian could be engaged by this research study. In order to construct the interview, a questionnaire was developed that includes ten questions related to the research topic. For gathering the secondary data information, the research accessed diverse sources such as relevant websites on the internet, journals, newspaper, relevant articles, and another source.
- The first interview was conducted on September 8th, 2019 in Stockholm, Odenplan bibliotek (library), it took 12 minutes
- The second interview was conducted on September 10th, 2019 in Cafe Espresso house, T-Central, Stockholm it took 18 minutes
- The third interview was conducted on September 12th, 2019, at Gymnasium, Jakosberg, Stockholm (library), it took 10 minutes.
- The fourth interview was conducted on September 12th, 2019, at Gymnasium bibliotek (library) Jakosberg, Stockholm it took 13 minutes.
- The fifth interview was conducted on September 15th, 2016 at Gymnasium bibliotek (library) Jakosberg, Stockholm it took 17 minutes.
- The sixth interview was conducted on September 17th, 2019 at, Karolinska Institute it took 12 minutes.
- The seventh interview was taken on September 19th, 2019, at Karolinska Institute it took 15 minutes
- Three other interviews were conducted at the workplace during lunchtime, but the participants were uncomfortable because of the environment and could not express their feelings freely, and it was too noisy; this affected the quality of the interview the researchers excluded all three.
∙ After transcription of the first interview attempt, the researchers found some missing data, so the researchers took a supplementary interview with five participants in order to collect additional to replace the missing part. The second interviews took 12 to 15 minutes in different places like (libraries, workplace). The researcher wrote notes about the quality of the interview process after each interview. During the interview process, the researcher used digital audio-recording devices which allowed the researcher to transfer the interviews to the computer; this made the transcription process much easier.
Data analysis techniques
In this research study, the technique of data analysis assists in evaluating as well as interpreting both the data collection method qualitative while completing the research. According to Bryman (2012), thematic analysis is one of the most used approaches in the analysis of qualitative data. A good qualitative study should be able to draw interpretations and provide explanations based on the collected data. Factor and variables that influence any issue generated by the participants can be detected and identified through thematic analysis. Thus, in understanding the actions, behaviours and thoughts of participants, the interpretation given by the participants should not be under-estimated. It is most essential to select the right data analysis technique to evaluate the data or information to achieve the purpose of collecting information (Weijer et al., 2016)
The researchers were able to collect much data through interview. The data collected were closely examined and afterwards incorporated into MS word. The interviewee’s opinions and utterances were the initial codes which were further broken down into categories in order to find emerging themes.
Ethical consideration
It is essential for the researcher to follow ethical values while conducting research in an effective way. The consideration of the ethical issues is necessary for effectively accomplishing the research by the researcher. The researcher must follow the ethical norms, values, principles; code of conduct to conduct the research effectively. The researchers also followed the ethical values while completing the research study in an appropriate way (Dollmann, 2017). The participants were provided with free consent to take participate in the research. Participants were also informed about the reason for conducting the research, the use of the research data, and other essential detail about the research. The researcher also followed the ethical principles and code of ethics, which is the set of principles and procedure which provide attention for the research that what is to consider ethical or what not to prevent the misconduct. The researcher also avoided the ethical issues while collecting the secondary data and information by providing proper citation and reference to the research report.
Research limitation
In this report, the researcher faced a diverse type of issue and problem that affected this report. Therefore, there are some research limitations that related to this research report as follows:
- The insufficient framework of the time-limited the researcher that can affect the research result as the research can take extra time to show or present more accurate information (Nienhusser, 2015).
- In this report, there are limited students selected from the school who found concerned in giving information or views that can lead to the consumption of time in the data gathering process.
Results and analysis
The researcher has conducted an interview with some school students, and they provided answers to the research questions in an effective manner.
Opportunities and challenges to learn the Swedish language
There are lots of opportunities for immigrants to learn the Swedish language. They have Swedish schools in every Kommun, and there are also private institutes to continue the study. These Swedish schools are free of cost for the student that provides financial benefits to students. As per another student, it is identified that the Swedish language course, work, school, community events, etc. is the supportive opportunity for students to learn the Swedish language by immigrants. Immigrants can also get a visa above 12 months by learning the Swedish language; otherwise, it could be difficult for the student. Learning the Swedish language also provides the opportunity to students that they can go Swedish language classes. It is also identified that immigrants can get a good education by learning the Swedish language as the country has a good education system. By learning the Swedish language, immigrants could get a good job opportunity in Sweden.
As per the viewpoints of the participants in the interview, it is identified that different kinds of problems and challenges are faced by immigrants in studying in Swedish culture. In this, way of teaching is more depends on the students itself. In addition, the student needs the Swedish number to get admission in Swedish schools. The students also face problems in admission in a good university due to having more competition. Due to the dissimilar education system, the immigrants also face issues related to teamwork and exams focuses on foreign countries. As per views of an immigrant, it is also identified that the immigrants face difficulty to learn the Swedish culture after the age of 13, but it is easy for them who started schooling from Sweden. It is also identified that studying in Swedish culture is very difficult in the starting, but after making some good friends, it becomes easier as they teach us.
Resources and teaching faculties in Sweden for the educational study
There are some participants who support this statement that there are sufficient teaching faculties with enough tutors to educate or teach immigrants in Sweden. As per their views, there are many facilities that are provided by teachers to immigrant students. However, most of the respondents in the interview have provided their positive viewpoints that there are sufficient faculties of teaching and enough tutors for educating or teaching immigrants in Sweden. But some participates do not agree with this because they have shared their experience that sometimes two different groups teach by the same teacher in the classroom. Conversely, it can be said that the schools in Sweden are providing good teaching facility and tutor to teach the immigrants.
According to the responses of students in the interview, it is identified that there are enough resources for the educational study of the immigrants, but the parents of students must have good income level. In concern to resources for the educational study, the institutions provide books, computer rooms, works of literature, etc. In addition to this, there is another facility of online educational resources that are supported to achieve the study outcomes. It is also defined that Swedish identification number is more important to get these educational resources that why the immigrants face several difficulties. More properly, the immigrants need to focus on online studies that are provided by the school.
Possibility and strategic plans to choose schools for getting an education
In concern to choose schools, the immigrants face some difficulties, but there is a possibility because people go one country to another than they normally face difficulty to get an education. In concern of this, immigrants can get admission in their school in the Kommun if they have addressed, but if they want to change the school, they must have a solid reason. It is also difficult in the starting when the immigrants come to the country, but after a long time, it becomes easy. In addition to this, the possibility to choose schools also depends on having the best address and personal numbers by an immigrant as it makes it easy. Moreover, it is also seen that the Swedish schools provide separate arrangements for immigrants that have to follow by immigrants to get admission.
Based on the viewpoints of students, it is identified that immigrants want to develop their strategic plan for study as per their interest in the study of a particular subject. In concern of this, the parents ask the interest of children related to study so that they could be successful. It is necessary for immigrants to observe their own interest in the study so that they can earn well in life and become a successful person while doing the job. In addition to this, the family earning the position and income level also impact on a strategic plan to observe the study of immigrants. However, it can be said that most of the immigrants want to do the job in a satisfactory manner so that it focuses on strategic planning for study.
Ways to adapt Swedish Culture and gain respect, professionalism, better lifestyles
From the interview, it is analyzed that the immigrants will adapt themselves to new conditions of Swedish Culture by learning the Swedish language. In concern of this, they will also register themselves in the Skatteverket and Försäkring kommit that is highly supportive of adopting the Swedish Culture. In addition to this, some participants also suggested in the interview that the immigrants will adapt themselves to Swedish Culture by making friends with the local people living nearby of them. Some of the participants in the interview also defined that the adoption of Swedish culture also depends on the country which the immigrants come from. In the new condition of Swedish culture, the immigrants will adapt themselves by getting knowledge about the country, their culture, nature, and the language they speak. The immigrants will adopt attitudes and behaviours of the Swedish people and always provide respect them by helping them when they are in trouble. It will be supportive of them to adopt the Swedish culture easily.
A number of participants have described that getting the education or studying in Swedish will assist in gaining professionalism, better lifestyles, and respect. It is because the Swedish study focuses on the creative and innovative environment as well as the students face several challenging tasks during the study that supports them in the profession to overcome the issues and challenges. In the Swedish environment, the immigrants learn the Swedish language as well as get a good education that is highly supportive for the better lifestyles, professionalism and gain respect. It is also analyzed from the interview that when people study in the Swedish environment than they are treated as Swedish people. In the study, they focus on the group presentation and seminar that helps them to interact with each other and become more professional. In addition, the people gain enough knowledge about the culture, religion, ethics, and norms of Swedish people that support them in gaining respect.
Strategies or policies to get success and exploit the opportunities in foreign conditions
In order to get success in education, several strategies and policies should be adopted by immigrants to address all problems, issues, and challenges. In concern about this, first of all, they need to plan for study and learn the Swedish language. After this, it is necessary for immigrants to make a selection with Swedish people and interact with them and make them friendlier. In addition to this, the immigrants should also more focus on the language by giving more time to the Swedish language. Moreover, several participants have suggested that immigrants should start language learning from the basic level and make friends with Swedish people as they are helpful to improve the language in a more effective manner. Moreover, it is seen that honesty with the culture and friends is also considered as an essential aspect that is supportive for people to get success in education.
Based on the analysis of several participants, it is identified that the immigrants would be able to exploit the opportunities in the foreign conditions of Sweden in different ways. In this, first of all, they should show the talent, and then they should gain a good command of language and then gain good knowledge about Sweden. There is a high level of competition from the local migrants so that they must have good knowledge about Sweden culture. In addition to this, the development of a positive attitude and by searching the needs and express their positive points in a satisfactory manner. Moreover, the focus on the opportunity will also be supportive to get success in the foreign environment.
Discussion
Based on the above analysis, it can be said that education is an important part of people’s lives so that Immigrants should focus on developing their career in the diversified area. In support of this, Cahil and Taft (2017) also explained the same thing in their research that education is essential for immigrant people to provide bright career opportunities, being respected in societies, bright future, and better lifestyles. In concern of this, it can also be discussed that immigrants should focus on education to make their future bright with a lot of opportunities to grow their career. In addition to this, it is also recognized from the research results and analysis that the significance of education is also necessary for Immigrants in Swedish country. It is because it is supportive for coordinating with the local people, get respect from others wherein the native people are against them as they are neglected the immigrants. In order to lead better lives, the schools, colleges, and educational institutes of Sweden are provided to immigrants for improvement in their lifestyles due to their good quality of education. In addition to this, it is also supportive for immigrants to provide social mobility and respect from the society individuals.
Based on the above study, it is also discussed that people from several countries don’t have batter educational quality as they follow traditional education system, but Swedish education is based on the online education system that is supportive of providing more quality in the professional life of the people. The immigrants must provide priority to complete their education to gain knowledge, increase abilities and develop professional skills in order to get a job. If we go back to school or college to gain more for teenage immigrants as well as immigrants from middle-aged, then it will be identified that Swedish schools provide more conditions to gain knowledge. Moreover, it is also identified from the interview that post-graduate immigrants with a master degree have more opportunity in the Swedish culture as this country provides more opportunity in the field of accounting, marketing, HR, and engineering. It is also supported by Nienhusser (2015) in the literature review that Swedish students have more opportunities in professional jobs than college graduate or diploma educational programs in other countries.
On the other hand, based on the above analysis, it is also identified in this study that immigrants face several issues, challenges, and problems in gaining Swedish language or completing the education in Swedish educational institutes or colleges. Immigrants can. At the same time, the immigrants also facing issues related to insufficient policies for the education for immigrants in Sweden. It can also be discussed that self-confidence and morale related challenges are facing by immigrants due to introducing a separate education system for immigrants in the Swedish conditions. Moreover, lack of qualified and well-educated teaching staffs are defined in the multiculturalism educational environment of Sweden that creates changes for immigrants that impact on the aims of immigrants to get the education.
In like a manner, it can also be discussed based on the above analysis that Immigrants have several opportunities to get success from education in Sweden. In support of this, it is also analyzed that immigrants should realize that education is inspiring them to achieve their career goals in Sweden by completing the required education level. In concern to this, immigrants should move their career in the professional achievement and growth in Swedish conditions to complete their study with a higher level standard (merit or distinction scores). It is because it will be supportive of them and lead them to provide higher success chances in their professional career. Based on the results of the research, it can also be discussed that immigrants should also inspire to their own children for education as well as develop their professional skills and abilities by adopting Swedish culture and language for their educational careers. Moreover, it is also analyzed that immigrant can expect a better professional career by completing education in Sweden and employing at good positions and quality life in order to support the family. The immigrants also get an opportunity to attract good salary packages and higher income levels in Sweden by getting a good quality education.
Conclusion
On the base of beyond research study, it can be concluded that education is playing a crucial role for immigrants that must be realized by them for a better life. This research study is focusing on the several effective things related to education for immigrants in Sweden. In concern to this, the study is a major emphasis on the several reasons about less interest of immigrant youth in education. It is concluded that immigrant should focus on education in Sweden to get success in professional life as well as to develop a career in reputed job or business. In addition to this, the study also focused on the importance of reducing disparity among immigrant and native-born people. In this, it is concluded that lack of proper training, language issues, and cultural issues are main that restricting to the immigrant youth to get an education in a different country. At the same time, this study also concentrated on the ways to avoid the educational segregation as well as the way to improve the awareness in working for immigrant and non-immigrant together in the same community. In concern of this, it is concluded that there are several opportunities for immigrant after getting a good education that is provided by Swedish schools, colleges, and educational institutions.
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Appendix
Background, personal information
- Age, Country of origin, and other countries if you have lived there for a period (time)
- Are you single married or cohabiting?
- If you are married, do you have any children? How many children do you have?
- What is your highest level of education?
- When did you move to Sweden, and what was the reason?
Relate to language background
- What is your native language?
- Which language(s) do you speak fluently?
- When did you start learning Swedish?
- Have you completed the Swedish language courses? If yes, how long did it take you to complete the Swedish language courses?