The WORTplus project is funded by the Free State of Thuringia using resources from the European Social Fund Plus and is a strategic pilot project run by Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences aimed at securing a sustainable supply of skilled workers and strengthening intercultural openness in southern Thuringia. The project addresses key regional challenges such as demographic change, skills shortages, the exodus of young people, and the hitherto inadequate integration structures for international skilled workers.
The aim of WORTplus is to systematically tap into existing skilled labour potential – particularly amongst international students, graduates and immigrants – to attract them to the region and retain them in the long term. To this end, new infrastructural, institutional and social frameworks are being created to enable sustainable prospects for staying in the region and to strengthen diversity as a locational factor.
The project is aimed at international skilled workers and their families, businesses, public authorities and educational institutions, civil society actors, and sections of the population with sceptical attitudes towards integration. Through career guidance, linguistic and cultural support, organisational consultancy, training programmes and dialogue-based engagement formats, the processes of settlement, integration and openness are specifically supported.
Implementation takes place through six closely interlinked work packages. These include project coordination and impact management
