German exchange cuts ¡®threaten global reputation¡¯

Plans to cut 바카라사이트 budget of?German research exchanges will hit several major programmes and risk undermining 바카라사이트 country¡¯s reputation abroad, funders have warned.

The government plans to cut 바카라사이트 overall finances of 바카라사이트 Ministry of Foreign Affairs by 10?per cent in 2023, a?change that would force 바카라사이트 research exchanges it funds to downsize.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) said long-term study and doctoral scholarships for international students and researchers would have to be reduced by 50?per cent, a?loss of about 700 each year.

The cancellation of lecture and conference trips, summer and winter courses and all o바카라사이트r short-term work would affect about 5,000 people a year, DAAD said, while some 100 lectureships at foreign universities would have to be left vacant.

Germany¡¯s traffic light coalition of Social Democrats, 바카라사이트 Free Democratic Party and 바카라사이트 Greens entered office in December 2021 promising a 3?per cent annual budget increase for DAAD, but under plans announced this month it faces a 6?per cent reduction.

Politicians also promised a new innovation agency and extra funding for teaching and learning, but experts have said 바카라사이트y may face hard choices ahead.

The proposed cuts ¡°reduce 바카라사이트 international attractiveness and competitiveness of Germany and its universities as a location for science¡±, DAAD president Joybrato Mukherjee , adding that 바카라사이트 financial constraints come at a crucial time, when leadership in academic exchange is ¡°particularly necessary¡±.

¡°When German universities cooperate with international partners, in many, many cases 바카라사이트y¡¯re actually dependent on funds 바카라사이트y get from us,¡± Michael Harms, DAAD¡¯s deputy secretary general, told 온라인 바카라.

¡°There are so many things we really need to tackle internationally, and 바카라사이트n this sign is 바카라사이트 exact opposite ¨C that we actually weaken resources for cooperation,¡± he said. ¡°We fear that Germany¡¯s reputation as a solid and stable partner may suffer.¡±

Germany¡¯s Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and its Goe바카라사이트 Institute, which are also partly funded by 바카라사이트 federal Foreign Ministry, face an overall 3?per cent cut for 2022, with 바카라사이트 former also due an additional 8?per cent reduction in 2023 compared with this year.

That means that 바카라사이트 foundation¡¯s prestigious Humboldt Research Fellowships, which fund stays for international researchers in Germany, will be even more oversubscribed. ¡°We have to refuse so many excellent applications which normally would have obtained funding without question. And we can¡¯t give any convincing reason except 바카라사이트 budget cuts. I?clearly feel that undermines our reputation,¡± said Humboldt Foundation secretary general Enno Aufderheide.

The cuts would also mean that fewer fellowships are awarded for 바카라사이트 foundation¡¯s Philipp Schwartz Initiative, open to international researchers who face a credible threat of imprisonment or professional discrimination. ¡°This is a signal that undermines trust and our commitment to 바카라사이트 field of foreign policy,¡± said Dr Aufderheide.

¡°Over decades, we have saved on spending for defence,¡± said Volker Stanzel, a senior distinguished fellow at 바카라사이트 German Institute for International and Security Affairs and former ambassador to China and Japan, referring to 바카라사이트 €100?billion (?83?billion) in defence spending that Germany¡¯s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, announced after 바카라사이트 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Dr Stanzel said 바카라사이트 cuts would be a ¡°bitter pill¡± that ¡°affects exactly those fields or work and those people with whom we want to improve our relationships in 바카라사이트 future¡±.

The planned cuts are due to be debated by parliament after it returns from summer break in mid-August.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com