10.10.2003
Calling all nations!
The federal state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany is strengthening its marketing activities for its top universities. Popular for its tourist attractions such as the Black Forest, the region situated in the south-west of Germany is also home to leading global players such as DaimlerChrysler, Bosch, SAP and IBM. Outstanding research possibilities and funding has triggered the State to develop an initiative to attract the best heads from abroad with a series of incentives.
Research, scholarships, excellent training possibilities in key international companies and international degree programmes in English – these are just a few of the opportunities offered by the State in a programme to attract ambitious and dedicated students from abroad. The fact is that scarcely any country, let alone state, spends as much, proportionately, on research as Baden-Württemberg. The State devotes 4.0 percent of its GDP to research (2001), as compared to 3.1 per cent by Japan (2002) and 2.8 per cent by the United States (2001); the missing ingredient is the international crème de la crème.
High-profile companies such as DaimlerChrysler and Bosch, as well as many middle-sized companies, are encouraging the move to foster interna-tional relations for the future.
The partnership between higher education and industry is thriving and this view is confirmed by numerous foreign students already studying here: “We are pleased that students very much enjoy the close links between industry and universities here”, says the Minister of Science, Research and the Arts, Professor Peter Frankenberg. This is confirmed by many students, for ex-ample by Bharath Chandrascharan, an Indian PhD student at the University of Tübingen. "Never did I imagine that I would be able to enjoy a first-class education and, at the same time, gain experience in the working world”.
Studying in Baden-Württemberg: Great minds think alike
The bid to attract students is now facilitated by an English website initiated by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts. The website (http://www.study-guide-bw.com), which includes vital information for students such as an overview of all international Bachelor and Masters courses as well as a step-by-step guide for those interested in studying for a PhD or undertaking research here, will save prospective students time and effort by making available per mouse click all the necessary information on studying and living in the area.
The extensive website offers relevant contact details, information on visas, courses and their requirements, finances, accommodation, leisure activities and much more. An online study-guide that accompanies the student through the decision-making process to the applications process also pro-vides a facility for asking any relevant questions on studying in the area. Developed in co-operation with foreign students and graduates, the website will also include personal testimonials that will allow an insight into studying here: advantages, tips, what to expect, as well as links to industry and details on training and internships in various companies. PhD students are espe-cially well catered for with connections to research institutes, opportunities for scholarship as well as detailed information on accommodation and child-care for families.
This approach is part of the State’s programme to foster long-term interna-tional relations worldwide. The region’s vastly diverse academic landscape – with nine research universities, 39 universities of applied sciences, six teacher-training colleges, two art academies plus a university of design and a film academy, eight universities of co-operative education, five music acad-emies as well as numerous independent research institutes – offers an un-precedented number of international degree courses in English. What is more, the support given by the State and industry in the region is leading to an increasing amount of scholars opting for a sojourn in the centre of Europe.
