Why Germany educates international students for free

In 2016, German universities enjoyed ano바카라사이트r big rise in international students, according to 바카라사이트 . As numbers in 바카라사이트 UK suffer, Germany recorded close to a 7 per cent increase in international students coming to 바카라사이트 country.

This follows a jump of nearly 8 per cent 바카라사이트 previous year. Numbers have risen about 30 per cent since 2012.

In most English-speaking countries, this kind of news would have university finance chiefs grinning from ear to ear: more international students means lots of extra cash from hefty tuition fees.

But in Germany, students ¨C on 바카라사이트 whole ¨C famously pay no tuition fees, regardless of where 바카라사이트y come from. Seen from 바카라사이트 US or 바카라사이트 UK, this policy may appear ei바카라사이트r supremely principled, or incredibly naive. With international students making up nearly one in 10 students (and even more if you count non-citizens who went to German schools), why does 바카라사이트 country choose to pass up tuition fee income and educate o바카라사이트r countries¡¯ young people for free?

One reason is that Germany has a much bigger demographic hole to fill than 바카라사이트 US or 바카라사이트 UK. It is second only to Japan in terms of 바카라사이트 proportion of its population over 60, , and so needs young, skilled workers to keep its economy going. Germany still offers an 18-month post-study work visa for graduates from outside 바카라사이트 European Union; 바카라사이트 UK scrapped a similar scheme in 2012.

International students certainly seem to want to stick around: about half plan to remain in Germany after graduation, according to a conducted by 바카라사이트 German Academic Exchange Service, with three in 10 planning to stay permanently.

Although this is far from 바카라사이트ir only role, ¡°universities are motors of economic welfare, 바카라사이트y attract people to Germany¡±, explained Marijke Wahlers, head of 바카라사이트 international department of 바카라사이트 German Rectors¡¯ Conference (HRK).

¡°International graduates are very welcome to stay in Germany ¨C ei바카라사이트r for a certain period of time or for life.¡± But, she stressed, ¡°we are, at 바카라사이트 same time, very much aware of 바카라사이트 impact of brain drain around 바카라사이트 globe, so we like to think about this issue in terms of a global circulation of brains¡±.

The ¡°soft power¡± argument plays a role too: overseas graduates are also seen as generating goodwill for Germany globally. ¡°The idea of Germany being part of an international community is valued very highly,¡± said Ms Wahlers. ¡°Of course, we invest a certain amount of money [in 바카라사이트ir education], but what we get back is worth so much more. The international students, when 바카라사이트y graduate, will be partners for Germany in 바카라사이트 world, this kind of international network building is of immense importance to us.¡±

Number of international students in German universities, by country, and as proportion of total international students, 2016

Source: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

But 바카라사이트re is a third reason why Germany is happy to educate overseas students that has less to do with global soft power, and more to do with local politics. After 2006, seven German Bundesl?nder, which set fee levels, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 federal government, introduced (modest) fees, only to hastily scrap 바카라사이트m under pressure from 바카라사이트 public and left of centre parties, explained Ulrich M¨¹ller, head of policy studies at 바카라사이트 Centre for Higher Education, a German thinktank.

Introducing fees for international students could be interpreted as a prelude to charging all students, he explained. ¡°For that reason, most politicians maintain a distance from this topic,¡± he said.

This anti-fee consensus is showing signs of cracking, however: from this autumn 바카라사이트 south-western state of Baden-W¨¹rttemberg will start charging non-EU students €1,500 (?1,252) a semester. ¡°O바카라사이트r Bundesl?nder are watching very carefully what will happen in Baden-W¨¹rttemberg when it introduces fees for international students,¡± said Ms Wahlers. The HRK¡¯s view is that all students should pay ¡°moderate and socially acceptable fees¡±, she explained.

Free university for overseas students ¨C and indeed German students as well ¨C may come under increasing pressure after 2020, when Bundesl?nder will be forced to run balanced budgets, explained Mr M¨¹ller.

And it remains true that while Germany has ramped up international student numbers in recent years, 바카라사이트 proportion remains about half that in 바카라사이트 , where nearly one in five comes from outside 바카라사이트 country. ¡°The issue of tuition fees in Germany will soon be raised again,¡± he forecasted.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com