Summary

The aim of this project is to study a specific and under-studied aspect of the last immigration wave in Portugal, which has been characterised by the entry of Eastern Europe citizens. The focus will be on the inclusion of these immigrants in dynamic and qualified sectors of Portuguese economy and society and of these in processes of global outsourcing of qualified human resources (Hira, 2003).
For this analysis, and after an initial characterization of the global volume of qualified immigrants who arrived in the last 10 years and of their territorial distribution, a set of sectors will be defined from which case studies, based on intensive research methodologies, will be developed.
This project will depart from the extensible information available and will focus on the use of interviews, survey and privileged information, in the context of the case studies to be selected in the relevant areas. With this methodology the project expected to achieve qualitative results which will shed new light on the inclusion processes of qualified immigration in the Portuguese economy and society and on its impacts in internal dynamics of organizations. It is therefore considered that qualification must be viewed not only as a useful variable for the analysis of economic impact but also regarding the perception of the processes of social inclusion of the recent immigration wave in Portugal.
From the onset these studies will expectedly include: (1) Dynamic industrial 'districts' in non-metropolitan areas; (2) Science and technology institutions, industry oriented, from 'industrial third sector' and culture; (3) Higher education institutions and research centres.
The final definition of the case studies will be made during the first phase of the research. These will result from the extensive information collected, namely from the quantification of qualified immigrants and their territorial distribution. It will be so in regard to items (2) and (3) above mentioned, taking also into account previous results highlighting the importance of international mobility in these sectors in Portugal (Pereira, 2002). In regard to the dynamic industrial 'districts' in Portugal (Reis, 1992), previous studies suggest targeting local productive systems such as Águeda, Marinha Grande, the Torres Novas-Abrantes axis or the Oeste Region (Oliveira e Lopes, 1995; Reis et al., 1995), and the relationships between knowledge and local development (Tolda, 2001).
Therefore, this project tries to understand 'the other side' of recent immigration, the cases which are not included in the most massive processes, examples of which are processes of inclusion of immigrants in the construction, agriculture and tourism sectors (Baganha, 2001; Baganha et al., 2002).

Objectives

- To assess the extent to which the greater qualification of immigration from Eastern Europe has been through an integration process in Portuguese society which has valued the competences of these immigrants. Is this simply an intersticial process or are there already significant trends developing, capable of changing the qualification of the Portuguese economy?

- To identify specific territories where qualified immigrants are employed, the ways their competences are being valued and contribute to organizational dynamics. Are there reasons to believe that we are in presence of a new mode of approaching immigration?

- To make available information for public policies, on the basis of an understanding that these issues under study cross several dimensions of Portuguese society. In which way can the articulation of immigration policy with training, local development and innovation policies be designed?

Work Packages

WP 1 - Identification and collection of basic extensive information and data

WP 2 - Definition of the relevant case studies

WP 3 - Case studies research

WP 4 - Synthesis, conclusions and recommendations