The PROMOTE project is dedicated to addressing one of the most pressing challenges in Europe today: the underutilisation of highly skilled migrant women in the workforce. Despite possessing immense talent and expertise, many migrant women, particularly those from Ukraine, face significant barriers to career integration. From unrecognised qualifications to overqualification and the lack of tailored opportunities, these women are often overlooked by employers.
That’s where PROMOTE comes in. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to break down these barriers and empower highly skilled migrant women to realise their full career potential. By providing tailored training, mentorship, and job placements, PROMOTE is working to ensure that these women can contribute to Europe’s diverse and dynamic workforce, which is in dire need of skilled talent.
Why is PROMOTE Needed?
Across Europe, employers are struggling to fill critical talent gaps. At the same time, skilled migrant women remain underemployed or unemployed due to the lack of recognition of their qualifications and the difficulty of accessing career development opportunities. PROMOTE seeks to address these issues head-on by equipping both migrant women and employers with the tools they need to succeed.
The European Commission's Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion highlights the importance of improving employment opportunities and skills recognition for migrant women. PROMOTE aligns with these goals by providing targeted interventions that bridge the gap between the skills of migrant women and the needs of the labour market, particularly in sectors undergoing digital and green transitions.
Our Goals and Objectives
The PROMOTE project has clear goals:
- Empower Migrant Women: Through tailored training programmes, mentorship, and job placements, we will help over 75 highly skilled migrant women integrate into the workforce.
- Support Employers: We will guide employers in recognising the skills and qualifications of migrant women, helping them tap into this untapped talent pool.
- Promote Inclusivity: We aim to create a more inclusive and diverse workforce, where all individuals—regardless of their background—can contribute to the success of the economy.
- Address Skill Gaps: By mapping the skills and labour market needs across regions, we’ll ensure that training and job opportunities are aligned with current market demands.
What’s in the Pipeline?
Over the next few years, PROMOTE will roll out several key activities to achieve these goals:
- Talent and Labour Market Mapping: We’ll identify the skills and qualifications of migrant women and assess labour market needs across partner regions.
- Training Programmes: Tailored training for both migrant women and employers to address skills gaps, foster inclusive hiring practices, and help migrant women integrate into the workforce.
- Work-Based Learning (WBL) & Job Placements: We’ll facilitate job placements in high-demand sectors, providing migrant women with valuable hands-on experience and enhancing their career prospects.
- Employer Engagement: Through workshops and awareness campaigns, we’ll engage employers in recognising the potential of skilled migrant women and help them make the most of this talent.
Who’s Involved?
The PROMOTE project brings together a strong and diverse group of partners, each contributing their expertise to the initiative:
- Folkuniversitetet (Sweden): A leading provider of vocational education, with extensive experience in inclusive training and empowerment.
- HETEL (Spain): A network of vocational training centres committed to improving education and aligning it with the needs of the labour market.
- Women Engage for a Common Future (France): A key player in advocating for women’s rights, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.
- Momentum Educate + Innovate (Ireland): An organisation that empowers migrant women through targeted education, training, and mentorship initiatives.
- Northern Chamber of Commerce (Poland): An influential business support organisation that helps SMEs access training, networking, and resources to enhance their growth and inclusion efforts.
- Outside Media & Knowledge UG (Germany): A specialist in creating inclusive educational resources and empowering marginalised groups through digital media and interactive learning.
- Gairmeach Training Limited (Ireland): An innovator in digital learning, focusing on future skills development and the use of AI, AR, and VR in vocational education.
Through this collaborative effort, PROMOTE will make significant strides toward creating an inclusive, diverse, and highly skilled workforce, where migrant women have equal opportunities to thrive.
Written by Kathryn O’Brien, EUEI