By implementing the new Skilled Workers Immigration Act and targeted measures to attract qualified professionals from India, the German federal government has advanced efforts in making living and working in Germany much more attractive. Further consultations with the government in India are planned for fall 2024. The discussion at Freie Universität was organized in preparation for these meetings.

Minister Hubertus Heil said, “Today I talked to Indian students at Freie Universität Berlin about very practical matters and what the German Federal Government can do to attract more bright minds to Germany. By implementing the new immigration legislation we want to recruit young skilled workers and convince those who are here already to stay. One thing that we know for sure is that Germany needs bright minds and helping hands. That’s why our efforts to secure the next generation of skilled workers within Germany must be combined with those to recruit qualified workers from abroad. We will kick off a recruiting strategy for skilled Indian workers before the end of the year. This will also serve as a clear signal to young people in India that they are welcome here.”

There are currently 42,997 Indian students across Germany, with 294 studying at Freie Universität Berlin. According to a recent survey, over three-quarters of international students at Freie Universität Berlin have considered staying on to work in Germany after they complete their studies.

The Indian students praised the education system in Germany, but also spoke about the difficulties they encountered living here, such as the visa process and finding affordable accommodation.

Freie Universität Berlin Cooperates with Partners in India

The university’s president, Professor Ziegler, opened the meeting with a few words on Freie Universität Berlin’s close ties to India: “We maintain many long-term cooperative research and teaching projects with our partners in India, a number of which have been supported by the liaison office in New Delhi since 2008. The numbers of Indian students at Freie Universität Berlin have significantly increased over the last few years, and many come to Germany with the ultimate goal of not just studying but also working here after they have finished their degrees.”

Freie Universität Berlin’s liaison office in New Delhi serves as an interface for the expansion and further development of cooperation between Berlin and its Indian partners. It provides information to students, doctoral candidates, and scholars from India who are interested in pursuing excellent teaching and research at Freie Universität.

FUSE – a Project between the DAAD and Freie Universität Berlin

Executive vice president of Freie Universität Berlin, Professor Blechinger-Talcott, added, “The topics of academic success and professional integration among our international students have gained even greater importance for us in recent years. That is why we are launching a project with DAAD funding to support international students from the initial settling-in phase to their first steps on the career ladder.”

The DAAD project FUSE (FU Students & Employers – Academic Success and Professional Integration for International Master’s Students) is being developed and carried out by the Career Service, Center for Academic Advising and Psychological Counseling, and the Division of International Affairs at Freie Universität Berlin. FUSE incorporates measures to promote academic success, professional guidance, and qualifications for the labor market. Its goal is to help combat the skilled labor shortage in the Berlin-Brandenburg region.