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Department of Social Sciences
Studierende sitzt am Arbeitsplatz und schaut auf den Laptop. © Aliona Kardash​/​TU Dortmund
Diversity as a Model for Success: How Dortmund’s Economy Integrates International Skilled Workers

SEDIMA: A Taste of Home. Diversity as a Topic for Businesses and Urban Society

Group photo: from left to right: Jens Maylandt and Christina Meyn (sfs at TU Dortmund), Barsan Sidik and Han Pham (both from Dortmund Economic Development Agency), Tina Riedel (Regional Agency for the Westphalian Ruhr Area), Alexander Lang and Jasmine Hohmann (Klinkum Dortmund), Jeannette Koall (rku.it), Peter Ittermann (sfs at TU Dortmund) © Wirtschaftsförderung Dortmund
From left to right: Jens Maylandt and Christina Meyn (sfs at TU Dortmund), Barsan Sidik and Han Pham (both from Dortmund Economic Development Agency), Tina Riedel (Regional Agency for the Westphalian Ruhr Area), Alexander Lang and Jasmine Hohmann (Klinkum Dortmund), Jeannette Koall (rku.it), Peter Ittermann (sfs at TU Dortmund).
Under the motto “A Taste of Home”, representatives from businesses as well as Dortmund institutions and initiatives exchanged ideas on diversity in business and society. International nursing professionals from Klinikum Dortmund prepared culinary specialties from their home countries at the event.

On 23 September 2026, a touch of international flair and the aromas of home filled the Volkshochschule Dortmund. Led by the Regionalagentur Westfälisches Ruhrgebiet, co-funded by the European Social Fund and MAGS NRW, and in cooperation with the SEDiMA research project, the event “A Taste of Home – Skilled Workers and Diversity for Dortmund” took place as part of the nationwide INQA Action Weeks. Representatives from business and politics presented new approaches to addressing the shortage of skilled workers. The event’s clear conclusion was that diversity is an important foundation for a future-oriented corporate culture and for securing employment in the long term.

The event’s name reflected its concept: international professionals from Klinikum Dortmund prepared traditional specialties from their home countries, creating a culinary bridge that provided the setting for informal exchanges and open conversations on equal terms.

The event was organised against the backdrop of the SEDiMA project, coordinated by the Social Research Centre at TU Dortmund University. The project partners – Klinikum Dortmund, painting company Massmann and IT service provider rku.it – provided compelling examples of the current challenges businesses face and of how the integration of international employees can succeed in practice. The companies demonstrated how teams can benefit from one another across generations and cultures while breaking down barriers.

Local employers can also receive support directly from the City of Dortmund. The specialist advisory services MigraDO and Kommunales Integrationsmanagement (KIM) provide targeted assistance in overcoming bureaucratic hurdles, such as the recognition of foreign qualifications, and in finding suitable language courses. The initiatives NRW integrativ and Ausbildung im Quartier, run by Dortmund Economic Development, also offer support to individuals seeking advice and to businesses. In addition, the publicly funded INQA Coaching programme was presented. It provides professional support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with up to 250 employees, helping them establish greater diversity while successfully managing digital transformation. 

For more information about the project, visit the following websites:

INQA

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