The education system in Germany continues to disadvantage people with a history of migration. More interdisciplinary and practice-orientated research is needed to identify the causes of this, develop solutions and make the education system as a whole more equal in terms of opportunities. This is precisely the focus of the "Integration through Education" programme funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the European Social Fund Plus. Around 50 German universities and colleges, including the Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR), are participating in this programme with other organisations as practice partners.
The HSNR is conducting research together with Migrafrica gGmbH in a research-practice tandem in the joint project "RediStar - Strengthening regular structures of start-up support in a diversity-sensitive manner". "Start-ups offer great potential as an opportunity for economic independence and social advancement. However, women with a history of migration in particular face a variety of hurdles and barriers on this path. The RediStar project focuses on an intersectional analysis of these barriers for women with a history of migration who are interested in starting a business. The findings will be translated into diversity- and gender-sensitive action knowledge in a participatory manner with the aim of facilitating access to start-up support for women with a history of migration," explains the joint project manager Dr Ann Marie Krewer, who is also head of the Institute for Research and Development in Social Work (SO.CON) at the HSNR's Department of Social Work.
Another aim of RediStar is to establish sustainable cooperation between migrant organisations and public start-up support structures such as chambers of industry and commerce or business development agencies. "It is important to us to effectively bring existing knowledge, potential and resources into (new) connections and relationships. This applies at an individual and institutional level," says Prof Dr Angelika Krehl, Head of NIERS - Niederrhein Institute for Regional and Structural Research at the Department of Economics and Co-Head of the project, explaining the project's approach and objectives.
The project kick-off took place on 1 April 2025 in Cologne at the premises of the practice partner Migrafrica. "With over 30 participants, our kick-off event was attended by a good cross-section of people from migrant organisations and regular public structures in order to lay the foundations for successful cooperation," says Amanuel Amare, Managing Director of Migrafrica gGmbH. The event focussed on providing information about the project and possible cooperation. Initial contacts were made and common interests explored in an informal setting. "We are very satisfied with this first event of the RediStar project and look forward to the cooperation with the representatives of the organisations from the various fields of practice, which will now really take off," said Migrafrica project managers Katharina Schück and Stephanie Linke, summing up the project team's view.
Further information on the RediStar project can be found at: https: //www.hs-niederrhein.de/redistar/.
