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Health monitoring of the migrant population in most European countries shows that migrants have a lower standard of health conditions than the resident population. One of the problems is that the interaction between migrants and general practitioners (GPs) is not optimal. Most of the migrants are not able to fully understand the GP’s advice or instructions. GPs report that they are not adequately supported by health institutions, and they are asking for new solutions. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to conduct a systematic review to find existing international approaches to improve the interaction between GPs and their migrant patients.

The literature search identified 2,387 articles, 36 of which met the full inclusion criteria. In total, 12 of the included studies referenced approaches for improving GPs’ communication skills. Seven articles described solutions for a better understanding of cultural differences, and six articles listed approaches to health education for GPs. One article highlighted how health information can improve the interaction between GPs and migrants, and four articles detailed new technologies that could improve and enhance quality of care. The last six articles included good practice strategies described by GPs.

This paper provides an overview of international approaches from the viewpoint of GPs. It concludes that there is no single instrument or method that works in all situations. There are, however, a wide range of approaches available that could lead to substantial improvements in the quality of care for the migrant population.

Different health systems in the reviewed countries and changing roles of GPs must be taken into consideration when making statements about successful approaches. Migrants have different backgrounds and cannot all be categorized as one and the same group of patients. Another limitation of the review concerns the evidence level of the articles included, since most of the studies do not reach high level of evidence. In addition, there is a need to analyze aspects of the relationship between GPs and the migrant population that have been neglected up to now, such as financial issues, patients’ expectations, or lack of trust.

This paper provides an overview of international approaches from the viewpoint of GPs.

This article explores the adoption of a transcultural education approach, rather than multicultural or intercultural education, and the implications this would have for educational practice. With the multiple issues associated with multicultural and intercultural education, the authors emphasize the need for a definitive definition of the term “transcultural” in the educational literature, as well as a new model of transcultural education. Addressed in the article are: (a) the contribution of transdisciplinary teaming to the definition and practice of transcultural education; (b) the meaning of “trans” in the term, transcultural; (c) a discussion of culture and individuality related to education; and (d) possible conclusions to facilitate dialogue regarding the future of transcultural education. Twelve vignettes are included to provide real world examples of the need for a paradigm of transcultural education.

The UN 2030 Agenda defines sustainable development (SD) in a multidimensional approach that encompasses economic, social, and environmental aspects. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as conceptual ideals, specific targets, and standards that determine global and local priorities. SD falls into the realm of wicked problems due to its multilayered definitions, untamable nature, and possible solutions at an operational level. Addressing these complex problems and challenges requires the localization of the SDGs and the creation of a new governance model tailored to sustainability. These efforts aim to improve policy coherence for SD. This contribution focuses on the importance of localizing the SDGs, which aims to streamline the 2030 Agenda and tailor the SDGs to local needs. Therefore, the importance of multi-stakeholder participation in the formulation of local definitions of the SDGs, policymaking strategies, and consequently the measurement of the SDGs is emphasized. This chapter provides insights into the specific tools and strategies used by the Metropolitan Cities (MCs) in the implementation of coherent SDG policies, with Florence serving as a case study. Despite the challenges faced by MCs, including ambiguous leadership, conflicting objectives between municipalities, and challenges in coherent policy design, this institutional level shows interesting elements, such as functions of long-term planning and coordination, inclusive tools of participation, and the development of new capacities (political and administrative) that could be useful for strengthening governance for SD.

This volume initiates a new collaboration between Research in Labor Economics (RLE) published by Elsevier Press and the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). Beginning 2006, the RLE series extends to two volumes per year. One volume will remain in the tradition of the series, consisting of empirical and theoretical contributions in labor economics, while the other volume will focus on specific policy questions. IZA has become one of the largest organizations of labor scholars worldwide while RLE is now a well-established publication containing labor economics research. We hope this new association will be a meaningful development for both IZA fellows and RLE readers.