The increased internationalization of the German education system has been a relatively recent process. Since 1995, the number of international students studying in Germany has increased 70%. Efforts to align the German higher education system with the terms of the Bologna Declaration, have contributed greatly to this increase. Since 2010, many German universities have been offering Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees in a standardized method and thereby facilitating the process of studying at many of Germany’s highly regarded universities.
In addition to policy changes, a number of government agencies and private groups have been leading the drive to internationalize German education. Below are the key agencies responsible for this effort.
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
At the federal level, the BMBF serves as the primary funding and coordinating agency for internationalization efforts. To help attract students to Germany, the BMBF designs and funds a wide variety of initiatives and partnerships. Responsibility for managing these efforts is often delegated to private or public-private enterprises such as the German Academic Exchange Service and the Alexander von Humboldt foundation.
German Academic Exchange Service
The DAAD is the main public-private initiative promoting German schools abroad as well as international exchange within Germany. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education Research, as well as the German states and the European Union, the DAAD is largely concerned with funding students interested in studying in Germany as well as German students looking to study abroad. To assist in attracting international students, the DAAD has also taken on an advisory role in helping universities develop courses in other languages (primarily English).
The DAAD also manages the Study in Germany and Research in Germany websites both of which serve as the primary portals for students interested in attending school in Germany.
The Educational Exchange Service of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (PAD)
At the state level, the main public body involved with internationalization efforts is the PAD. Given the decentralized nature of the German education system, the PAD serves as a regional resource for schools looking to connect with an international partner.
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| Overlapping Structures | Quality Assurance |
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