Refugees in Europe: Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education Institutions in Germany

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The recent phenonema in migration towards Europe, the increasing number of refugees seeking for asylum and protection against civil wars and terror, constitute an enormous challenge to countries like Germany. Nearly one million of refugees reached Germany only in 2015.
Besides societal and political challenges, these (mostly)young people do represent relevant opportunities for the country. A decisive question is whether Germany succeeds in integrating young refugees into (higher) education, into jobs and careers. DAAD, the national agency for international exchange and cooperation, is starting a new program to support German universities in the many tasks related with information, preparation and guidance for refugees looking for university studies, as well as for graduates and scholars to achieve a recognition of diplomas and study credits. The presentation will give an insight in the political discussion behind these questions, in the facts and figures of refugee migration, in projects of facilitating the access of refugees into study programs and in the public policies adopted by the Federal Government and implemented by DAAD.

Author(s):

Christian Müller    
DAAD German Academic Exchange Service
Germany