DEVELOPMENT-GERMANY: MAKING "FOREIGNERS" FEEL AT HOME

STAFF
Inter Press Service English News Wire
05-06-2000
BONN, May 5 (IPS) -- Germany is stepping up efforts to promote
educational exchange with the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin
America as part of a move to project an image of a nation
receptive to foreign cultures.
The lack of laws regulating the immigration of nationals from
non-European countries has, until now, stood in the way of
Germany being regarded as a multi-ethnic society in which even
non-German speaking foreigners feel at home.
In the forefront of organizations involved in projecting a new
Germany is the Bonn-based German Exchange Service DAAD, which
completes 75 years of its existence this year.
The DAAD is funded by several federal government ministries.
These include the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Education and
Research and Development, and Development Cooperation.
"We provide information on higher education in Germany, on
higher education and degree courses abroad and sources of funding
and scholarships," says DAAD president Theodor Berchen.
Last year more than 60,000 persons worldwide received DAAD
support by way of one-year an
d short-term scholarships for
individuals, group programs, study visits, practical internships
for students and project-based scientific collaboration between
German and foreign higher education institutions.
Last year 41 percent of DAAD scholarship holders came from the
developing countries, with those from Latin America and Asia
comprising 36 percent and 33 percent respectively and others from
Africa and Near East 26 percent.
DAAD has an annual budget of about $220 million. Development
Cooperation Ministry's share -- aimed at benefiting 3,500
students from the developing countries -- amounted to about $19
million.
Topping the list were China and India. But the programs also
involved students from Chile and Argentina, Brazil and Mexico as
well as Vietnam and Cuba.
DAAD has also initiated postgraduate courses for professionals
with relevance to developing countries in Germany.
German institutions of higher education offer 12 to 24 months
of postgraduate training to professionals and executives from
around the world.
The subjects include business administration, economics and
management, engineering, mathematics and natural sciences,
regional planning, agriculture and forestry, environmental
sciences as well as medicine and public health education.
The courses are held in English or German, generally leading
to a Master's Degree. Programs cater to the interests of
professionals working in or coming from developing countries,
says DAAD president Berchen.
Berchen expects success building upon the reputation of German
institutions of higher education that can look back on a
centuries old tradition embracing distinguished scholars and
scientists.
Since the time of the university reformer Wilhelm von Humboldt
(1767-1835), the governing principle has been "the unity of
teaching and research," which means that all the members of the
academic staff and advanced students should also be active
researchers.
"However, faced with huge student numbers, the ideal has lost
some of its shine," says DAAD publication. "Nowadays a lot of
students are more interested in vocational relevance and
practical experience that 'pure science'," it adds.
As a result the universities teaching applied sciences have
become very popular as the courses are shorter and the curriculum
more practice-oriented than at the universities.
Another DAAD publication sums up the experience of an
Indonesian student: "Studying in Germany is interesting, but very
challenging."
Nearly all German institutions of higher education are
financed by the state. So far German and foreign students have
been able to pursue their studies and research without having to
worry about costly fees.
However at present new higher educational models and special
courses are being developed which are supposed to offer even more
differentiated and efficient academic training in return for fee.
To attract foreign students, DAAD has posted a university
guide on Internet. Admission data bases provide information on
academic qualification required for a direct admission to a
German higher education institution.
The website www.daad.de also provides a scholarship data base.
A separate survey contains information about special scholarships
and funding for qualified and executive personnel from developing
countries.
"All this is an important contribution to educational exchange
that can also serve as an engine of development," says German
Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Heidemarie
Wieczorek-Zeul.

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