The report of the Global Commission on International Migration (2006) has highlighted that migration is a transnational phenomenon and that migration and integration must be regarded as two sides of the same coin.

Although the history of mankind is obviously a migration history and about 200 million people can be defined as migrants – with growing tendency –, the actual European migration policy seems to be dominated more by fear and a political strategy of defence reaction than by a necessary paradigm change to see the chances for defeating poverty through migration.

The structures of the education systems, formal and non-formal, carry the weight of inventing concepts of integration and find themselves in a difficult situation of needing to find the right balance. This is especially the case in countries where migrants are objects of a nationalistically oriented policy of interior affairs, which splits them into different categories of benefit receivers. Depending on their civic status migrants have different chances of access to programmes and benefits or even of political participation. Some of them, if they are ‘illegal’, do not have any access neither to formal structures nor to political participation.

The main goal of the conference is to offer a forum for exchange of opinions and experiences about the challenges of migration processes for European and International cooperation in the field of education and concerning integration processes in the countries of immigration. The key question about the role of education and, more specifically, what adult education can and must contribute to the fulfilment of the right to education, shall be discussed in an international, a European and a national perspective.

The presentation of different concepts of education in international cooperation seeks to contribute to a change in perspective – to view migration more as a chance than a threat.

The organizers strive to achieve an exchange of information about the relationship between migration, development cooperation and adult education based on the experiences of the international partners of dvv international and adult education institutions in Germany and Europe.

The conference also offers the opportunity of discussing the recommendations of the International Commission on Migration and evaluates its relevance for the field of international cooperation in education.

Additionally, different methods, instruments and concepts of adult education for securing the right to education of migrants shall be presented and discussed.

The conference organizers wish to initiate a discussion process for the formation of opinions on this important issue, to give space for mutual understanding and to define the role and tasks of adult education in the complex process of migration.

Adult Educators, Trainers and Directors of Adult Education Institutions, administration and politicians involved in educational issues, members of integration networks, all people with an interest in the issue.