INTEGRATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP: ESSENTIAL CROSS-CULTURAL TRAINING NEEDS AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Integration and entrepreneurship projects for immigrants require cross-cul- tural communication skills to be successful. This work investigates the cross-cul- tural communication training needs of immigrants and the local individuals who work with them. Cross-cultural communication skills are essential to pro- mote integration and guarantee successful entrepreneurship projects. Research methods included interviews and surveys aimed at determining the perceived training needs of migrants and migrant center professionals. Migrant center managers, social workers, logistics managers, educators, counselors, cultural mediators, Italian language teachers were interviewed and carried out a survey. Migrants interviewed included center residents and others who had started the integration process with jobs and private housing. The article finishes with a suggested proto-type program for training both immigrants and immigration personnel.