Apr 18, 2024
Germany aims to welcome more Indian students as it finds great potential in international students from India to meet the country’s labor market needs. This comes in response to a significant labor shortage faced by more than half of German companies, according to the DIHK Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Indian students are a major focus of these efforts because they are the biggest group of international students in Germany.
Joybrato Mukherjee, the president of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), visited India to discuss these initiatives. He was there for a special conference called the DAAD Innovation and Global Cooperation for Sustainability, which took place in New Delhi from 12th to 14th March 2024. This conference was all about making stronger connections between India and Germany, especially in the field of education, and sharing new ideas to help students and universities from both countries work together for mutual benefit.
The need for these efforts is clear when you look at the numbers - Over 43,000 Indian students started studying in Germany in the winter semester of 2022/23. That is double compared to the number four years ago! In 2022, the DAAD also supported over 1,900 Indian students across various levels of higher Study in Germany, highlighting the ongoing need for academic partnerships. |
Mukherjee also explained that many Indian students choose Germany not just for education but also as a place where they can start working, At the conference he added “Many Indian students come to Germany with a clear perspective as they can pursue their degrees, pick up some German and enter its labour market. The current German and European legislations also make it very easy for students to find employment and residency in Germany and the Schengen area.”
He also mentioned a discussion between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, where the chancellor talked about how Germany needs more IT professionals from India. This was backed up by a new agreement between Germany and India namely - German Indian Migration and Mobility Agreement signed in December 2022.
Mukherjee wants to make sure that this doesn’t just lead to a brain drain of talent from India. Instead, he hopes to see a `brain circulation,’ where students have options to work and live in India, the US, or other parts of Europe. This is part of a broader strategy supported by over 450 University Cooperation Programs between Germany and India which aims at creating a more integrated and mutually beneficial educational environment.
So, this was all about the latest update from Germany, often called as the land of ‘Poets and Thinkers.’ Their thoughtful approach to enhancing the international student community makes it one of the best European countries to study. So those who wish to explore higher education and job opportunities in Germany can consult experts at KC Overseas Education for detailed insights and assistance.