Internationalization of Universities: The German Way

Authors

  • Marijke Wahlers

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6017/ihe.2018.92.10276

Keywords:

Internationalization, Germany, German universities, recruitment, international students, tuition fees, cooperation, competition, brain drain, brain gain, brain circulation

Abstract

While German universities have traditionally followed a partnership-based cooperative
approach to internationalization, more recently, growing competition and increasing
resource shortages have resulted in the emergence of a more competitive approach.
Also with regard to international students as a target group, the cooperative and
competitive approaches have coexisted for many years, albeit virtually unconnected.
This has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of international students in
Germany over the past two decades. The question arises as to whether, and how, the
two sometimes contradictory rationales can, in the future, be harmonized. There is
much to be said for Germany further enhancing its international profile in the global
competitive market by consistently pursuing its partnership-based approach. There is
evidence that not only universities, but also the economy and society, reap long-term
benefits.

Author Biography

Marijke Wahlers

Marijke Wahlers is head of the International Department, German Rectors’ Conference, Germany. 

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Published

2018-01-14

How to Cite

Wahlers, M. (2018). Internationalization of Universities: The German Way. International Higher Education, (92), 9–11. https://doi.org/10.6017/ihe.2018.92.10276

Issue

Section

Aspects of Internationalization