Germany to woo Indian students for labour market shortages, says DAAD president

With a record number of Indian students now enrolled in German universities and Indians forming the largest international student community on German campuses; the government of Germany is also focussed on addressing its own labour market shortages. “At 43000, Indian students form the largest number of international students in Germany. It is important to make the German labour market attractive for Indian students after they get their educational degrees to address the increasing gap in skilled workers in the German labour market,” German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) president, Dr Joybrato Mukherjee, said during a press briefing in New Delhi on Thursday.
He added that following the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz last year; and Germany’s newly enacted Skilled Immigration Act; Indian students will find a smoother pathway into the German labour market. “For Indian students, who have got German degrees many of which are taught in English; the way to getting employment in Germany and other Schengen area countries is now more attractive. We believe in the concept of brain circulation rather than brain drain and we think that international students who are well qualified can follow a very successful professional career path in Germany,” Dr Mukherjee said.
Figures released by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany show that the number of Indian students in Germany has grown by 26% over the last year and was pegged at 42,997 for the winter semester 2022-23. Indians form the largest group of international students enrolled at German universities with engineering: 60%; law, management and social studies: 22%, and mathematics and natural sciences: 14%; among the popular fields of study.
Recently, as the new Act came into effect on March 1, 2024; the German government has also allowed international students from outside the European Union to work up to 20 hours per week (an increase from the previous limit of 10 hours). This rule will also cover students who go to Germany to search for educational programmes but have not enrolled yet to a university and those doing German language training courses.