On October 16, 2025, the “Ich bin DABEI!” project organized by the International Rescue Committee Germany, in collaboration with the City of Halle’s Commissioner for Migration and Integration, hosted a symposium titled “Digitalization in Migration Work—Potential for Labor Market Integration” in the Grand Ballroom of the Stadthaus Halle (Saale). The event provided ample opportunity for guidance and discussion regarding digital approaches in migration work.
The focus was on innovative approaches using artificial intelligence, blended counseling, and social media.
We were represented by the Research Institute for Corporate Education (f-bb) with two projects: the Future Center for Digital Work in Saxony-Anhalt and the WelcomeCenter Saxony-Anhalt. In a joint presentation on the topic “Blended Counseling: Hybrid Counseling in the Process of Labor Market Integration,” Larissa Zier and Clemens Kellner demonstrated in a practical manner how digital and analog communication channels can be combined in a systematic and conceptually sound way to enable counseling that is more relevant to real life, more efficient, and more flexible.
The presentation highlighted key aspects such as:
- the selection of appropriate communication channels (synchronous/asynchronous, verbal/written)
- technical and organizational framework conditions (e.g., data protection, accessibility, multilingualism)
- competency requirements for counselors (e.g., digital literacy, ethical awareness, building trust in the digital space)
In the subsequent workshop, the topic of blended counseling was explored in greater depth. Participants shared their own practical experiences, discussed challenges, and, in small groups, developed creative concepts for ideal hybrid counseling settings, particularly for the target group of immigrant professionals.
For us, the event was yet another example of successful cross-project collaboration within our research institute on socially relevant topics such as labor market integration. Thanks to our specific project contexts, we were able to examine the topic of blended counseling from various perspectives and inspire the participants to engage in creative thinking. We hope that all the dedicated counselors who attended will be able to apply the many insights gained to their daily professional practice.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the event team and look forward to further discussions on the potential of digitalization in migration work!
