German labour market set to ‘attract’ Indians

As Germany grapples with severe labour shortages, the country is looking to make its labour market attractive for international students from India, according to head of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). 

Half of German companies are failing to fill vacancies according to the DIHK Chamber of Commerce and Industry, DAAD president Joybrato Mukherjee said that Indian students can potential help, while also benefiting from training and experience.

“We know that Indian students look for job prospects after they have obtained their degrees in Germany. I think it’s a win-win situation for both India and Germany,” Mukherjee, told The PIE during a virtual press briefing, in New Delhi.

“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.”

Mukherjee was in India for the DAAD Innovation and Global Cooperation for Sustainability conference in New Delhi from March 12-14.

Around 43,000 Indian students studied at German universities in the winter semester of 2022/23, an increase of 100% in just four years.

The latest DAAD conference focused on reconnecting stakeholders from India and Germany to propel new ideas for academic cooperation and augment the Indo-German Higher Education network. 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to India in February 2023, wherein he encouraged the need for Indian IT professionals, coupled with the German-Indian Migration and Mobility Agreement signed in December 2022, have encouraged international agreements between both the countries. 

“Indian students, professionals working in Germany and Schengen area is a perspective that is very strong and attractive,” Mukherjee added,

“Our aim is not to have a one-sided brain drain but rather a brain circulation where students have the choice to move to India, US, or any other European country in the next 2, 5, 10 years. The brain circulation should not end with the degree automatically.” 

In 2022, Germany was the fifth most popular destination for Indian students after the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. Such growth has been possible because of DAAD’s continuous efforts in India since the 1960s. 

In the 60+ years of Germany has built its engagement with India, stemming from the 1974 Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation.

“[That agreement] laid the foundation for many academic and scientific collaborations,” Mukherjee continued.

“Today, 11-12% of all international students in Germany are from India.

“We were also in India to discuss new programs and initiatives, with the German intergovernmental consultations in October being a good timeframe for us to talk about new ideas for scientific and academic exchange with India.”

According to the German Rectors Conference, there are now 450 university cooperation programs between German and Indian universities.

Currently, 11 German universities and research institutions have a permanent presence in India with the DAAD supporting more than 2,300 students and researchers and facilitating 79 cooperation projects in 2022. 

India is a “very important partner” for DAAD, director of the DAAD Regional Office in New Delhi, Katja Lasch, continued.

“It’s not just the DAAD investing towards Indo-German academic cooperation but also the Indian government,” Lasch said.

“With their help, last year, we were able to renew some contracts with the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research and 22 Indian Institutes of Technology to enhance bilateral programs.”

In 2022, DAAD supported 1,900 Indians to go to Germany for bachelor’s, masters and PhDs, in addition to senior scientists.

“We also saw about 250 students from Germany coming to India for post-graduation but we have to see the numbers in other structured programs as well,” she added.

DAAD’s A New Passage to India program has also promoted collaborations and internships for students.

During the 2019-2024 project phase, the Indian government co-financed a total of nine projects worth €3.5 million with the German Ministry of Education and Research.

Despite Indian students now surpassing their Chinese counterparts as the largest international student cohort in Germany, the introduction of the mandatory Akademische Prüfstelle certificate has proved to be a minor hurdle.

It was introduced in October 2022 owing to many fraudulent study visa applications.

The German Embassy increased staff numbers in recent months to deal with a backlog, which has become less problematic.

Sourced from The PIE‍