1. Overview: New access to TransFAR 2020 for research on Syrians and Eritreans in Germany
The TransFAR 2020 dataset is now available to researchers through an application-based access route. It offers the largest quantitative resource currently available to study people from Syria and Eritrea living in Germany. This release opens new possibilities for migration, integration, labor market, and health-related research that focus on these migrant groups.
Key points at a glance
- TransFAR 2020 provides rich quantitative data on Syrians and Eritreans in Germany.
- Access is via a formal application (beantragungszugang) for approved researchers.
- Complementary datasets and administrative linkages enhance research on integration, employment, and health, including the COVID-19 period.
2. What the dataset contains and research potential
TransFAR 2020 combines survey-based information with the potential for linkage to administrative records. It enables population-level analysis of migration patterns, labor market participation, training and education, and basic health indicators for Syrians and Eritreans. Researchers can exploit the dataset’s quantitative depth to produce robust, policy-relevant findings about integration since 2015 and changes through the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Feature | Notes |
|---|---|
| Target populations | Persons from Syria and Eritrea resident in Germany |
| Data types | Survey variables with potential administrative linkages (employment, benefits, processes) |
| Time coverage | Includes post-2015 integration period and administrative records up to the COVID-19 era |
| Access mode | Application-based access for qualified researchers |
| Research potential | Labor market integration, education, welfare receipt, longitudinal analyses |
| Use these features to plan analytical strategies and ethical safeguards. | |
Promising research questions
- How have employment trajectories for Syrians and Eritreans developed since arrival?
- Which factors predict successful labor market integration and skill recognition?
- What was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment and benefits receipt in these groups?
- How do local integration policies and services relate to measurable outcomes?
3. Access routes, data portals, and application steps
Access to TransFAR 2020 is granted through a formal application process. Recent discussions in national service and infrastructure forums have emphasized decentralized and federated approaches to data access, meaning that researchers may need to use secure data portals or remote analysis services rather than receiving raw files. These access modes are designed to protect confidentiality while enabling robust analysis.
Typical steps to get access
- Prepare a research proposal that clearly states objectives, methods, and variables needed.
- Confirm institutional review and data protection approvals from your host organization.
- Submit the application to the dataset custodian and await review.
- If approved, complete any required secure data access training and agree to usage conditions.
- Work through a secure portal or trusted environment to run analyses, often with output checks for disclosure risk.
4. Complementary sources, federated infrastructures, and health research opportunities
TransFAR 2020 should be seen as part of a broader data ecosystem. Linked survey-and-process-data efforts can enrich analysis by connecting self-reported outcomes with administrative employment records. Employment establishment panels and other administrative panels provide workplace-level context. Federated data infrastructures and real-world data transformations developed in medical networks show how privacy-preserving linkage and analysis can support migrationsensitive health research—although specific health case series for Syrians and Eritreans may still be limited.
Quantitative strengths and qualitative limitations
Large quantitative datasets like TransFAR 2020 enable statistically robust, generalizable findings about populations and trends. At the same time, purely quantitative sources can miss nuanced experiences, local practices, and the meanings of integration for individuals. Combining quantitative work with qualitative fieldwork or mixed-methods approaches can provide a fuller picture and address gaps that numbers alone cannot fill.
- Use administrative linkages for objective measures (employment spells, benefit receipt).
- Complement with qualitative interviews to understand barriers, discrimination, or cultural factors.
- Explore federated analysis methods to protect privacy while enabling cross-site studies.
5. Practical guidance, ethics, and best practices for researchers
Working with migration-sensitive data requires careful planning around ethics, confidentiality, and analytical validity. Below are practical tips to prepare strong applications and conduct responsible research on Syrians and Eritreans in Germany.
Checklist before applying
- Clarify your research question and justify the need for TransFAR 2020 variables.
- Obtain ethics approval and ensure compliance with data protection rules.
- Design analysis plans that minimize disclosure risk (e.g., aggregation, suppression rules).
- Plan for potential linkage to administrative records and describe matching procedures.
- Include dissemination plans that respect participants and avoid stigmatizing language.
Analytical and policy considerations
Frame findings in ways that support policy improvements: focus on barriers to integration, structural drivers of outcomes, and actionable recommendations for employment support, training, and health services. Be transparent about limitations—sampling, coverage, and any missing information for specific subgroups—and recommend complementary qualitative or local studies where appropriate.
