Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Table of Content
Introduction: Why Belgium? How to apply Recognition of your tertiary qualification - NARIC Documents to submit for NARIC recognition Obtaining the right job Work Permit Learn the Lingo The time is now Obtaining and Managing accommodation Arriving in Belgium More specifics about Nursing positions in Belgium Belgium Map and pictures
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Addendum
Application form NARIC (complete and tear out)
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http://belgium.angloinfo.com/
How to apply?
1. Recognition of your tertiary qualification - NARIC The procedure to apply for equivalence of a foreign qualification is free. However you may need to have your documents translated, which will entail some costs. As a non-EU citizen, you will need to submit your application to NARIC, who will compare your foreign studies of tertiary education with the Belgian studies. Once your qualification is declared equivalent, it then has officially the same value as the final qualification of tertiary education in Belgium. As a result, you will receive the same rights as anyone who has a Belgian diploma/degree of tertiary education.
Criteria used by NARIC: What is the structure of the education system in your country of origin? The level of the Institution The level of the training programme Essential components of the training programme, namely: Traineeships Thesis/Final paper Student workload Relevant Professional Experience
Who decides whether or not your degree is equivalent? NARIC-Vlaanderen asks the advice of at least 2 Flemish higher education institutions. They assess the value of your foreign qualification. If only one single Flemish Institution provides the training programme, one advisory opinion suffices. The application file is usually sent for advice to 3 universities or colleges which provide a corresponding Flemish training programme. The law stipulates that they have 40 days to give their advice to NARIC-Vlaanderen. What if the eauivalence of a particular degree has already been examined? Will the same diploma be subject to an assessment each time? The authorities indeed often receive applications for the same qualifications. If the same foreign diploma from the same country has been declared equivalent to a particular Flemish degree twice already, there is a precedent. If there is a precedent, NARIC-Vlaanderen does not have to ask the Flemish Higher education institutions for advice anymore. It can simply process the application in the same way as previous applications.
There is a link to the NARIC website http://www.naric.be where you can download the form Application for academic recognition of a foreign higher education diploma in Dutch and in English. Unofficial translations in 12 languages are also available on the website. DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT FOR NARIC RECOGNITION
Before submitting your application, your agent will sort the documents in 4 identical sets. If you apply for academic recognition of a foreign degree of doctor of medicine, you must sort the documents in 6 identical sets. If your foreign diploma is recorded in the precedents database of NARIC, 1 set will suffice. Documents Number of copies Completed application form which you find at the 4 copies back of this brochure (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents) Your diploma/degree in the original language 4 ordinary copies (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents) If your documents are NOT in Dutch, French, 1 original + 3 ordinary copies English or German, you must also submit: the (1 original + 5 ordinary copies for doctors of original certified translation of the diploma medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents) Your passport in the original language 4 copies (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents) The diploma/degree supplement (overview of 4 ordinary copies subjects and traineeships, evaluations and student (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) workload) in the original language (1 copy if there are precedents) If your documents are NOT in Dutch, French, 1 original + 3 ordinary copies English or German, you must also submit: the (1 original + 5 ordinary copies for doctors of original certified translation of the medicine) diploma/degree supplement (1 copy if there are precedents) The official programme of study (description of the 4 ordinary copies content of the subjects) in the original language (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents) If your documents are NOT in Dutch, French, 4 copies English or German, you must also submit: your (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) own summary of the official programme of study in (1 copy if there are precedents) Dutch, English, French or German Your dissertation/thesis/Final paper in the original 4 ordinary copies language (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents) If your documents are NOT in Dutch, French, 4 ordinary copies English or German, you must also submit: your (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) own summary of the dissertation/thesis/final paper (1 copy if there are precedents) in Dutch, English, French or German Curriculum Vitae 4 ordinary copies (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents)
The resume is generally two pages in length (unless you are a recent graduate or have worked only a short time), and includes the following: Contact information Educationlist schools (locations, dates attended, study emphases, and degrees) in reverse-chronological order. Include special training and internships. Professional Experiencealso in reverse-chronological order, with dates of employment, responsibilities and accomplishments Language and computer competencies, and any other skills Personal Interestshobbies and other significant pastimes Personal informationage, marital status and children, citizenship a picture
You will be screened based on the information in your CV: personal and professional skills (training and experience) and communication skills (including the ability and willingness to learn the language). This screening process will be conducted in person by your agent, and through a skype interview with a Belgian assessor (Nic Nicasy, certified psychologist with 15 years healthcare recruitment experience and certified assessor). During the NARIC PROCESS Interviewing Advice Be prepared: Information is the Key You have to start to learn to be proficient in either French or Dutch/Flemish. We therefore strongly urge you to start a basic language course straight away. Employment in Belgium typically requires excellent language skills. All candidates will be tested for language accuracy, whether it is Dutch/Flemish or French. Following successful NARIC verification Following successful verification of your qualification through NARIC, a second Skype interview with your prospective employer will be conducted. Your prospective employer may also wish to conduct a personal interview in the country of origin.
3. Work permit
Following your verification with NARIC and successful appointment you will require a work permit. Surprisingly, this is an easy procedure and will be organized by the UNIXUS office. You can read more about the application procedure on: http://www.werk.be/wg/werknemers_buitenlandse_nationaliteit/bijzondere_categorieen_arbeidskaart -b/hooggeschoold_personeel.htm Forms can also be downloaded on this site: http://www.werk.be/wg/werknemers_buitenlandse_nationaliteit/formulieren.htm
YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ChofQnY3PE
Arriving in Belgium
The Unixus integration office will take care of you from arrival in Brussels to entry in hospital. They will assist you with all your queries about housing, registration, banking etc.. . in order to provide each one of you with an unique service. The integration office will ensure candidates follow up on the work floor, they will organize intermediate evaluation moments with the employer, and they will assign a Personal Integration Coach (PIC) to assist you 24/7 in your own language. Please read UNIXUS separate Integration brochure which contains all the information on what the Unixus Integration Office will help you with.
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Annual salary increases are often controlled by an industry collective agreement and pegged to local cost of living increases. In Belgium, your salary may depend on your age and, while salary levels rarely appear in job advertisements, the desired age range will give you an idea of what an employer is willing to pay. Some health institutions provide benefits such as a private school fees, interest-free home or other loans, and membership of local clubs or sporting organisations. These additional benefits are usually taxable, however, and this should be taken into account when calculating your net take-home pay or comparing competing job offers. 11
13th Months Salary & Bonuses Many employers pay a 13th month bonus to their employees, usually payable at the end of the year. This year-end or Christmas bonus (jaarpremie) should be incorporated into your contract if youve been quoted an annual salary. In your first and last year of employment, the 13th month bonus (and any holiday bonus related to vacation time) is paid pro rata if you dont work a full calendar year. Some employers offer a variable profit sharing or productivity bonus (aandeel in de winst or produktiviteitspremie), depending on the performance of the company, branch or department. In Belgium, youre entitled to a holiday (vacation) bonus of 85 per cent of a months salary, normally paid during the summer or whenever you take your main annual holiday. This should be included in your employment contract and the amount of the bonus included in the annual salary figure youve been quoted. (You may need to divide your annual salary by 13.85 to find your gross monthly salary.) Some employers operate a separate profit-sharing or performance-related bonus system, whereby they pay an annual sum (usually at the end of the year or the end of the fiscal year if the company doesnt operate on a calendar year system). The amount of the bonus depends on the companys overall performance, the attainment of specific goals during the year, and may be calculated as a percentage of each employees annual or monthly salary over the period. Your eligibility for this type of bonus may or may not be part of your employment contract. (It certainly makes a nice surprise at the end of the year if you get one!) Working Hours & Overtime Working hours in Belgium vary according to your employer and your position, as well as the regional or industry collective agreements that apply to your employer. The standard working week (i.e. the hours youre expected to work on a regular basis) can be no longer than 39 hours in Belgium. After that, workers must be paid overtime, at rates that vary according to the requirements and conditions of the extra hours worked.
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