Diversity opportunities flourish in Oslo Extra Large

In October 2012 the Norwegian city of Oslo welcomed a group of international experts to review its intercultural policies. This has been the third expert visit to the city since its joining the Intercultural Cities programme as a pilot city in 2008. The visit coincided with the adoption of decision 152/12 by the City Government, aiming to strengthen the central Oslo Extra Large (OXLO) diversity campaign launched in 2001, to assess diversity policies and raise awareness thereof among the residents. The implementation of the Eurocities Charter on Integrating Cities as well as the Norwegian integration policies were also on the agenda. Amongst larger cities that have completed the ICC Index, Oslo has posted the most impressive result. The group was keen to observe how this had been achieved and, in particular, how Oslo translates its wide range of policies into practice.

Oslo is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe, due in particular to economic migration from the rest of Norway, Europe and beyond. Today, about 27 per cent of the city’s population has origins in over 150, mainly non-European, countries (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Turkey, Morocco, Vietnam, Iran, Philippines and India). Most recently though, immigration from Sweden, Poland and Spain has been increasing. Half the children in Oslo have a minority background through their own or one of their parents’ migration history and, by 2030, it is estimated Oslo’s population might experience a further 30% increase, owing to immigration and high birth rates.

Oslo demonstrates a growing international trend towards divergent approaches between major cities and their national governments on integration policy. Oslo has been rather critical of several aspects of Norwegian national policy, in particular the decision to cut support for language tuition to migrant workers and the maintaining of a high threshold for newcomers trying to access the labour market. The city strives to address these challenges by offering alternative solutions, for example encouraging language learning programmes run by businesses, educational institutions or civil society and fostering job finding rather than job qualification programmes for migrants. The city government has proposed the repeal of a dual language (Nynorsk and Bokmål) entry in secondary education, in order to promote better language learning and fight early school leaving. It also facilitates experience exchange between Norwegian cities facing similar challenges through the National City Network on Diversity and Ethnic.