Where Germany scores points
What makes Germany such a strong international education partner? Ten reasons why contact is worthwhile on matters of scholarship and learning.
1. DUAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Germany’s dual vocational education system successfully provides skills training for young people. Dual vocational education programmes last between two and three years and are offered in 330 recognised occupations. The system combines theoretical and practical learning and is considered an international model.
2. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NETWORK
Students at some 2,000 schools worldwide can gain a solid grounding in German, among other things, in order to later study for a degree or pursue a career in Germany. The initiative Schools: Partners for the Future (PASCH) is funded by the Federal Foreign Office.
3. FOREIGN-LANGUAGE DEGREE PROGRAMMES
In 2016 the number of international students in German higher education reached the record level of roughly 321,000. One of the reasons for Germany’s popularity with students from abroad is the fact that it offers over 1,300 foreign-language and international degree programmes, the majority of them in English.
4. GERMAN UNIVERSITIES ABROAD
Young people can study for a German degree without even leaving their home country. German universities and degree programmes have been established in many countries – from Egypt to Vietnam – as part of the transnational education effort. Great emphasis is attached to education partnership here.
5. EXCELLENT PHD OPPORTUNITIES
A PhD is regarded not only as the key to an academic career, but also as the turbo charger for a successful career in industry. Germany offers many opportunities to complete a PhD. In addition to the “traditional” route based on individual research, there are some 700, often internationally oriented PhD programmes.
6. OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS
Many postdoctoral researchers opt for a career in Germany. Why? Non-university research institutions like the Max Planck Society and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are globally renowned and well connected. Their projects are interesting and interdisciplinary and the working conditions attractive.
7. DYNAMIC LABOUR MARKET
In international comparisons, the German labour market is considered robust, transparent and dynamic. At the same time, many promising occupations today lack young skilled employees. The Federal Government is sending a message to international specialists with the initiative Make It in Germany.
8. OUTSTANDING RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES
The brightest minds find an innovative environment in Germany. Excellent – and sometimes globally unique – research facilities are of special interest to internationally oriented researchers, who are attracted by highly competitive infrastructures – ranging from particle accelerators to super-intense lasers.
9. ATTRACTIVE EMPLOYERS
Many German companies are very attractive for employees around the world. They often stand for innovation, quality, engineering excellence and reliability. German firms are also sought-after employers because they offer their employees good working conditions and a modern work-life balance.
10. PROSPECTS FOR PEOPLE FROM CRISIS REGIONS
“Integration through education” is a key area of German refugee policy. The Federal Ministry of Education is supporting the integration of refugees with two large packages of measures – they range from German language courses to vocational training or higher education programmes.
