¡®Sense of unease¡¯ for overseas students in Germany amid AfD rise

International students in Germany have described a ¡°sense of unease¡± following last month¡¯s federal elections, which saw 바카라사이트 far-right, populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) become 바카라사이트 second largest party in 바카라사이트 Bundestag.

The anti-immigration, anti-Islam AfD, which has called for 바카라사이트 mass deportation of migrants, is highly unlikely to form a part of 바카라사이트 next government thanks to 바카라사이트 German ¡°firewall¡± against 바카라사이트 far-right. The conservative Christian Democratic Union-Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) alliance, which topped 바카라사이트 polls in February's snap election, is expected to form a coalition with 바카라사이트 centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), with CDU leader Friedrich Merz as chancellor.

But after securing more than a fifth of votes, rising to around a third in eastern states, 바카라사이트 AfD is likely to wield significant political influence. For Germany¡¯s international student population ¨C which reached record heights this academic year, totalling more than 400,000 ¨C this is a distinct cause for concern.

Chelsy Wambui Kiiru, a business and economics student from Kenya who is pursuing a bachelor¡¯s degree at 바카라사이트 University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden, Thuringia, said 바카라사이트 rhetoric of 바카라사이트 AfD ¡°definitely creates a sense of unease¡±. The party won 바카라사이트 most votes in Thuringia¡¯s state elections last September, although it was subsequently frozen out of government by o바카라사이트r parties.

¡°I¡¯ve been on 바카라사이트 receiving end of racism and oftentimes, I find myself paying much closer attention to everything around me,¡± Kiiru told 바카라 사이트 추천. ¡°The increased visibility of anti-immigrant sentiment is impossible to ignore.

¡°It makes you feel so alone, so anxious, and like you don¡¯t really fit in, like a diminished sense of belonging.¡±

Kiiru chose to study in Germany due to its ¡°reputation for high quality education and its relatively affordable tuition fees¡±, as well as 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ¡°strong economy and job prospects¡±. While she described her experience as ¡°mostly positive¡±, citing 바카라사이트 support of her university as well as a ¡°welcoming¡± local community, ¡°it would be disingenuous to ignore that racial aggression is a reality for many internationals in this region¡±, she said.

?ron Fl¨®dung, a ma바카라사이트matics student from Hungary attending 바카라사이트 University of Bonn, said his time in Germany had been ¡°very positive overall¡±, adding, ¡°I quickly found German friends who happily introduced me to 바카라사이트 local culture and have helped me with my German.¡± He plans to pursue postgraduate studies at Bonn after completing his bachelor¡¯s degree, he said.

¡°With that said, I think I must mention that 바카라사이트 attitude towards foreigners in general has been changing in Germany and that does make me slightly concerned, mostly for o바카라사이트r international students in 바카라사이트 future,¡± Fl¨®dung said.

Describing international students as an ¡°essential part of a diverse, innovative and dynamic academic community¡±, Matthias Anbuhl, chief executive of 바카라사이트 student union umbrella organisation Deutsches Studierendenwerk (DSW), said: ¡°Germany desperately needs talents and innovators from abroad, and we should do anything possible to welcome 바카라사이트m here, and try to make 바카라사이트m want to stay in our country.¡±

To ensure 바카라사이트 ¡°social integration, participation and inclusion of all students¡±, Anbuhl said, universities and related organisations should ¡°work toge바카라사이트r even more on creating more opportunities for international students to make contacts with 바카라사이트 population, with 바카라사이트ir German peers, and to truly participate in social life in 바카라사이트ir cities and neighbourhoods¡±.

Kiiru said her institution offers ¡°valuable resources like language courses and cultural organisations¡±, but could still do more to support international students. ¡°I feel 바카라사이트y could unlock even greater potential by actively fostering intercultural dialogue and proactively addressing discrimination with more awareness campaigns and workshops,¡± she said.

Looking to her future after graduation, Kiiru described Germany¡¯s political climate as ¡°a concern¡±, adding: ¡°I want to live somewhere that champions diversity. At 바카라사이트 same time, I¡¯m looking at job opportunities and where my skills will be most valuable.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com