Study Examines the Use of the Integreat Digital Integration Platform in Germany
The research paper “Information on Integration: Administrative Offerings & Immigrant Engagement —An Explorative Large-N Analysis of the ‘Integreat’ Platform in Germany” by Samir Khalil (2025) examines how over 100 German cities and districts use the digital integration platform Integreat. The analysis is based on more than 11 million page views from 2018 to 2024. The aim is to understand which topics local authorities prioritise, how these are received by users, and how information needs differ between language groups.
Key Message
Digital integration platforms realise their full potential when they provide multilingual, locally relevant and needs-based information. Topics relating to housing, language, the law and everyday life are particularly important, as they address the lived realities of the target groups directly. Continuous maintenance and data-driven prioritisation ensure the platform’s long-term impact and acceptance.
With regard to crisis response, the study shows that regions which were already online when the war in Ukraine began were able to react very quickly. Within a few weeks, they expanded their platforms to include Ukrainian and/or Russian. Three months after the start of the war, 70 per cent offered Ukrainian – whereas previously not a single local authority had done so. During this period, visitor numbers also rose significantly.
Key Thematic Areas
Most local authorities focus on traditional integration issues:
- Work & Vocational Training
- Learning German
- Family & Childre
- Consulting & Support
Topics with a strong relevance to everyday life, such as transport, opening hours and public holidays, housing, racism and discrimination, or information for older people, are less frequently covered. These differences point to varying priorities – influenced by local resources, administrative structures or assumptions about the needs of target groups.
Usage and Engagement
Usage patterns do not always correspond to the administrative bodies’ thematic priorities.
- The most frequently accessed topics are practical, everyday issues such as opening hours, transport and contact details for public authorities, although information on these is often in short supply.
- Content relating to housing, learning German, legal issues and information for refugees from Ukraine is seeing high and sustained usage.
- More content leads to greater usage, particularly for the key topics of language, legal status and housing. There is no saturation effect.
- Topics such as LGBTQ information or leisure activities achieve higher access rates than their limited presence would suggest.
Differences by Language
There is a marked difference in interest in information between the language groups:
- Ukrainian/Russian: high demand for accommodation and language courses
- Arabic: strong interest in legal information
- Farsi/Dari: above-average use of LGBTQ content
- English: frequent use for transport and administrative matters, less so for work and education
The results show clear differences between the language groups: the issues of concern vary depending on origin and residence status.
Implications for Towns and Districts
1. Strengthen practical topics:
Information relevant to everyday life (opening hours, transport, housing) is in high demand, but is often under-represented.
2. Strategic planning for language versions:
Translations should be tailored to actual needs. Arabic and Ukrainian remain key languages, supplemented by English as a bridge language.
3. Actively analyse usage data:
Click statistics can provide insights into which topics and languages are most important in your own region or in other regions.
4. Securing resources for the long term:
Most local authorities spend less than four hours a week on care. A modest increase in this time can significantly boost the benefits.
5. Promoting cooperation:
Exchanges with neighbouring regions or partner local authorities can help to share and update content and translations more efficiently.
Conclusion
Samir Khalil’s study shows that the digital integration platform Integreat realises its full potential particularly when it is multilingual, relevant to everyday life and continuously updated. The analysis provides local authorities with valuable insights into how they can strategically develop their information services.
Further information
📄 Samir Khalil (2025): Information on Integration: Administrative Offerings & Immigrant Engagement – An Explorative Large-N Analysis of the ‘Integreat’ Platform in Germany
🔗 Read the study on journalqd.org
📱 More about the Integreat-App: www.integreat-app.com