International talent for Central Hesse: New opportunities for the economy!

International talent for Central Hesse: New opportunities for the economy!

On April 11, 2025, a significant step towards integrating international students into the regional job market was taken in Central Hesse. The “International Talents for Central Hesse” working group was founded to promote cooperation between regional companies and international students. The aim is to utilize the potential of foreign skilled workers and at the same time present local companies as attractive employers. Loud University of Marburg The working group was founded by important institutions such as the International Career Center (ICC) and the Competence Center for Dual University Studies (CCD). Other participants include the Central Hesse University of Technology (THM), the Philipps University of Marburg (UMR), the Central Hesse regional management as well as several economic chambers and employers' associations.

The kick-off event took place on March 26, 2025 at the THM under the leadership of Prof. Matthias Willems, the President of the THM. The important role of universities in solving the region's need for skilled workers was highlighted. An important part of this initiative is the FIT project (Promotion of International Talents), which aims to integrate international students into their studies and the job market. The “InternationalTalents@THM” and “MarWay” programs support around 4,000 international students in their transition into the German labor market.

Job speed dating as a first step

A central project of the working group will be job speed dating, which is intended to facilitate networking between regional companies and international students. The focus is on emphasizing the potential of international students as skilled workers and underlining the attractiveness of regional companies. The working group also wants to promote a welcoming culture and advocate for the uncomplicated issuing of work and residence permits. The next meeting of the working group is planned for October 2025.

The importance of international students for the German economy is underpinned by a current study by the German Economic Institute (IW). Loud DAAD In the long term, each year of international students contributes around eight times more to public budgets than the state invests in their education. This shows that investments in international students pay off quickly.

Economic contribution of international students

The IW study shows that around 80,000 international students started their studies in 2022 with the intention of graduating. Over the course of their lives, these students pay around 15.5 billion euros more in taxes and contributions than they receive from the state. If the retention rate remains stable, this effect repeats itself with each cohort. With a retention rate of 30%, income exceeds expenditure by 7.4 billion euros, while with a 50% quota the surplus is 26 billion euros.

With around 405,000 international students, Germany is the most popular non-English-speaking country to study. According to the OECD, Germany has the highest retention rate of international students in the world, at 45% after ten years. This shows the need for scholarships and cooperation between universities, companies and politics to promote the integration of international students. The DAAD emphasizes the importance of a strong welcoming culture and supports the transition into the labor market through the skilled workers initiative.