How can we make it easier for migrants to access vocational training in the skilled trades and better highlight and utilize their diverse talents? This core question was the focus of our two interactive workshops, "Making Migrant Potential Visible," which we held in June 2026.
In a first workshop we focused on understanding and prioritizing the challengesthat prevent migrants from starting an apprenticeship in the skilled trades. Participants from the city administration, police, Chamber of Crafts, and integration services worked together in four groups to identify core problems – ranging from a lack of transparency and bureaucratic hurdles to language barriers. There was an especially intense discussion regarding the role of AI and digitalization : Can digital tools help make German bureaucracy easier to navigate? Or is personal guidance ultimately always necessary?
The second workshop focused on developing concrete solutions. The groups worked on innovative approaches such as AI-supported workflows, a legal "gig work platform" for rapid integration, best-practice project days in craft businesses and the "Hidden Craft Münster" project, which uses QR codes to introduce young people to the trades in a playful way. Here, too, the question arose: How can we effectively combine digitalization with personal support?
A big thank you to everyone who made these workshops possible – to the participants who contributed their perspectives, experiences, and ideas, and to everyone committed to the next steps! Your dedication shows: Together, we can build bridges and continue to develop Münster as an open-minded, innovative city.
