Michael Jaumann Information Centre DAAD Almaty International Students at German Universities: Facts, Trends, the Role of the DAAD Michael Jaumann Information Centre DAAD Almaty (Michael Jaumann, head of the Information Center of the DAAD in Almaty, we give information about study and research options in Germany and about our scholarship programmes which are open for German and Kazakh applicants – academic exchange in both directions) As I am only a guest working in Kazakhstan for some time I cannot speak about Kazakh educational policies. I rather want to give an outside example for internationalization and I hope that this is of interest for your conference – so I“m going to speak about the DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service, as an example for an internationalizing agency, and about the experience and the whole situation of international students at German universities 09/2013

German Academic Exchange Service: our network Motto of the DAAD: change by exchange. DAAD is representing the vast majority of German higher education institutions and supports the international activities of these universities with marketing, publications, events and other measures. The other goals and missions of the DAAD: 1. attracting foreign academic elites by giving out scholarships for a study or research stay in Germany 2. sending out German students, university teachers and researchers to higher education institutions abroad 3. strengthening German studies and the German language in foreign universities 4. supporting developing/ transition countries in establishing efficient universities. In order to do this: global network, 14 bigger regional offices (triangle), over 50 information centres (Almaty) – tasks: promote Germany as centre for study and research, offer advice on study programmes, give information about scholarships, make contact to universities in the host country (and so on). 09/2013

Why internationalisation of German universities? Because globalisation is a fact. Because Germany is dependent on exports and international trade. Because Germany is a demographically challenged country. Three simple answers to this, given by our General secretary, Dorothea Rüland – political dimension clearly visible here. No. 3: doesn‘t mean promoting immigration into Germany. Not brain drain is intended, but brain circulation – German politics and DAAD strive to create a global network of academic elites educated in Germany who are i.e. meeting the demands of German companies operating abroad, and who can develope common markets for mutual benefit. 09/2013

„The battle for gifted students” Global competition for good students, many universities around the globe try especially to attract international students – by support through scholarship programms, but also self-financed. WW! Most important host countries for international students: USA, UK, Australia, GER, France – GER used to be on 3rd position, but surpassed by AUS several years ago (many Asian students there, 2009 one out of four students in AUS was foreign) 09/2013

University tradition More than 350 universities in Germany, oldest universities: Heidelberg, Cologne, Erfurt Approximately 250,000 instructors and researchers at German universities Wilhelm von Humboldt (1810) – his vision of education: “Unity and freedom of research and instruction” Important difference to university systems in some other countries: less frontal instruction, more independent work of the students – students are asked to take over their own responsibility for the learning process (with support by their academic teachers), they study by doing self-guided research work, by doing experiments on their own a.so forth. So in theory, is it the reality? Freedom of instruction can also create problems for some students, who can’t cope with this independence approach to studying. 09/2013

Institutions of Higher Education Universities Technical universities Universities of applied sciences Colleges of music, art and film Private colleges and academies German universities are well known for their high academic standards, they offer excellent opportunies for study and research and provide superior libraries and technical equipment. The university landscape is very rich and diversified. HOWEVER: In this diversified university system for international students problems of orientation right from the start – that means: it‘s not always easy to find the right university, suitable for the specific needs and study goals of an individual student 09/2013

IC work: facts and figures I Third part of this presentation: the statistics, the trends of international studies at German universities. Numbers from 2010, based on the latest world-wide survey done in all information centres of the DAAD. First: If people are interested in studying in Germany what‘s their intended goal of study? This chart shows that the vast majority of people willing to go to a German university want to do a full master programme there, 38 % of all people interested Whereas 17% of all the people coming to our information centers want to start their academic career in Germany by attending a bachelor programme there And at least 11% are interested in doing a PhD with German supervisors Interesting is the number of postdocs planning a research stay in Germany with 6%, which could be higher Rest of the inquiries are for internships, language/summer courses at German universities or for studying for a single semester in Germany And at least 13% ask questions which are usually not related to academic questions at all 09/2013

Facts and figures II Same category, inquiries made by people coming to our information centers, now organized geographically, by global regions. Overwhelming majority interested in Master-programmes at German universities, designated by the grey beam. Especially high in central and eastern Europe/CIS, where 45% are interested in Master studies at German universities. This is also reflected by the funding policy of the DAAD and many other institutions: financial support through grants and scholarships usually starts at the master level, there is much less funding for B.A.-studies. 09/2013

Facts and figures III Now: Which specialties, fields of study are foreign applicants interested in? What do they actually want to study? Overwhelming interest for economical and social sciences including law school, all together 26% here in red, closely followed by engineering with 21% in grey, third highest is the interest for Mathematics and natural sciences with 14% 09/2013

Facts and figures IV: general opinions Personal safety, reputation of the institution and financial issues are most important when deciding for a foreign university 21 % believe that Germany is „too expensive“ 84 % believe that career options in Germany are good or very good Quality of study programmes at German universities is estimated as high or very high (94 %) What are general considerations when planning to study abroad? On this slide some answers of our clients are listed, when asked about their reflections on studying abroad (Slide will be read) 09/2013

Equals 11,4 % of whole student body in Germany The result: 252.032 international students at institutions of higher education in Germany (2011, 3% more compared to 2010) Equals 11,4 % of whole student body in Germany Most important countries of origin: China, Russia, Bulgaria, Poland, Austria, Turkey (DAAD/ HIS: Wissenschaft weltoffen 2012) Result of the advising work done by the German universities and the DAAD (slide will be read) Important note – 67.000 of the whole group of international students are „Bildungsinländer“, they have a final exam from a German school and can apply for university studies like German citizens do. 09/2013

Acclaim – and some problems 70 % of international students recommend Germany as country for studying (2009) – a success of the „code of conduct“? Problems considered to be most severe: - to get orientation in the academic system (40 %) - to make contact to German students (37 %) financial issues (39 %) to find accomodation (31 %) (DAAD/ HIS: Wissenschaft weltoffen 2011) (Slide will be read) Problems remain, but nearly all German institutions developed strategies for the support of incoming international students, there are many measures for their support and advice, this is symbolised by the Code of Conduct, a declaration signed by many German universities with the aim of setting up common minimum standards on which foreign students (and applicants) can rely on. 09/2013

Tägliches Leben: umweltfreundlich, preiswert u. nachhaltig Leben aus “zweiter Hand” Alles wird wiederverwertet, nichts verkommt: Flohmärkte, Zeitschriften, eBay! Müllvermeidung und -trennung Umfassendes Recycling- und Pfandsystem Verkehr (“Semesterticket”) Das Fahrrad als universelles Transportmittel! Gemeinsames Reisen: Mitfahrzentrale.de (Kontaktbörse für Reisende), ticket-mitfahrer.de (Bahn), Carsharing Today it‘s possible to study in Germany in the English language – so called international degree programmes, English is the main language of instruction in those programmes. HOWEVER: We‘re in Germany – so here one slide in the German language. Studying or working abroad is the great adventure – to make contact with a foreign culture and language can be a very rewarding experience! 09/2013 13

The other side: German students abroad 115.000 Germans enrolled for getting a degree from a HE institution abroad (2009) – main countries of study: Austria, Netherlands, Great Britain, Switzerland, USA Other forms of international mobility: 30.274 German students abroad with ERASMUS (2010/11, increase of 5%) 62% of all international mobile students from Germany go to Western Europe! (USA 13%, Eastern Europe 10%) (DAAD/ HIS: Wissenschaft weltoffen 2012) (Slide will be read) Note: The low number of students going to the East is disappointing, DAAD developed the Go East-Programme in order to attract more German students to this region; however, this also depends on the universities abroad to create attractive courses for Germans and other foreign students 09/2013

Information online Studieren und Leben in Deutschland www.daad.de/en/index.html Welche Hochschule, welcher Studiengang? www.hochschulkompass.de Studium in Deutschland – speziell für Studenten www.study-in.de Sommerkurse an Unis www.daad.de/sommerkurse HS-Kompass besonders nützlich – liefert komplette Listen aller Studiengänge zu allen Fachbereichen! Tautologische Formulierung „speziell für S“: Gemeint ist locker und modern gestaltete Webseite für ein junges Publikum 09/2013

Willkommen in Deutschland! Welcome to Germany! Vielen Dank für Ihr Interesse! DAAD IC Almaty info@daad.kz www.daad.kz 09/2013