Facilitating Immigrants' Employability: Educational borrowing and lending in the context of Swedish for Immigrants

Abstract: In the Swedish context Swedish language skills are considered to be a crucial factor for an individual's ability to establish him/herself in society as well as on the labour market. Despite this, the Swedish organisation Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) has been exposed to extensive critique: Not enough students manage to establish themselves on the labour market, but get trapped in SFI. The purpose of this study is to examine whether educational tools found successful in the organisation QATSIHWEPAC can be of use in SFI. This is done against the background of research on educational borrowing and lending. By examining the two organisations thoroughly it has been concluded that three of the educational tools used by QATSIHWEPAC could be of use for SFI. These tools are; support, cultural awareness and flexibility. SFI has both prerequisites as well as hindrances to be able to borrow these tools. The hindrances need to be overcome before such borrowing could occur. However, an important factor for SFI to be able to borrow these educational tools is an enhanced cooperation between authorities, organisations and companies. This in order to enhance the chances for SFI students to enter the labour market.