Germany Launches Programs to Attract & Retain International Students

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, has launched a new initiative to attract and retain international students in the country in an effort to alleviate the shortage of skilled workers.

The first program within the initiative, named FIT (Promotion of International Talent for Integration into Studies and the Labour Market), is set to commence in spring 2024, Erudera.com reports.

With a budget of up to €1 million, running until 2028, FIT aims to support up to 70 projects across German universities. The program focuses on providing extra career support for international students throughout their studies, including:

• preparation for studying in Germany
• academic success,
• improvement of job opportunities in Germany
• assistance with career transitions

Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger said that in the past, many international students considered the possibility of remaining in Germany later in their careers when deciding whether to study in Germany.

“Germany is in third place in the global ranking of the most popular countries to study in. For a large number of international students, the good prospects of remaining in Germany later in their careers have already been a key factor in deciding in favour of Germany as a place to study in the past,” she said.

The second program within the initiative is Profi plus, or the “Academic Adaptation Qualification for the German Labour Market” program. It targets international graduates holding foreign university degrees.

Like FIT, Profi plus with a budget of up to €700,000 per project, will support up to 25 university projects. The program is expected to help graduates with their qualifications to meet the German labor market requirements.

DAAD President Joybrato Mukherjee highlighted the significance of the initiative, saying it expands the opportunities of member universities to qualify and support international students while studying in Germany and after graduation, as well as to access the German labor market.

“In this way, we are strengthening the integration of international students at universities and in our society. At the same time, we ensure that young people from all over the world have better career opportunities in Germany after successfully completing their studies and contribute to alleviating the shortage of skilled workers,” said Mukherjee.

Germany is one of the most sought-after study destination for international students, reaching a record level of enrollment during the 2022/23 academic year, with nearly 370,000 international students in German higher education.

This increase in international student enrollment played an important role in Germany overtaking Australia as one of the most popular study destinations for international students. Currently, Germany holds the third position globally for international students and the first among non-English-speaking nations.

A recent study found Munich is the top city in Germany for international students, with a particular emphasis on its safety.

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