Germany in international competition: How universities attract talent!

Germany in international competition: How universities attract talent!

The internationalization of science, research and higher education is crucial for Germany's global competitiveness, especially with regard to innovation and future prosperity. However, current developments show that German universities need to significantly increase their efforts to recruit international talent. According to the Wübbens Foundation, geopolitical factors are of central importance because they influence the competitive landscape in international science. An example of this is the deep cuts to the federal research budget in the USA, which are making the country increasingly unattractive for international academics.

While America continues to offer attractiveness through the flexibility of its system, the risks and uncertainties of pursuing an academic career there have increased. These changes are reflected in the decline of the United States' attractiveness for scientific opportunities, while at the same time China's scientific achievements are taking center stage. Germany, on the other hand, offers an academic system that offers a balanced combination of excellence and security, opening up new opportunities for recruiting international talent.

The attractiveness of Germany as a location

In order to be successful in the competition for international talent, German universities are required to improve their attractiveness to foreign applicants and develop targeted recruiting strategies. The 2023 OECD report ranks Germany 15th in the ranking of talent attractiveness, which is due to various influencing factors. Universities can have a positive influence through measures such as salaries, contract types and research infrastructure, but have limited influence on factors such as tax burdens, inflation and societal attitudes towards immigration.

A central aspect of supporting international talent is the implementation of onboarding measures. These are crucial to mitigate negative impacts of external factors and help foreign employees overcome the challenges of relocation and integration. Effective onboarding is essential for the successful transition and long-term retention of international talent.

OECD talent attractiveness indicators

The OECD recently updated its talent attractiveness indicators, which provide a comprehensive overview of how countries can attract and retain talent. These indicators look not only at migration conditions, but also at many other factors that influence the attractiveness of countries for foreign skilled workers. The indicators assess seven dimensions: quality of opportunities, income and taxes, future prospects, family environment, skills, inclusivity and quality of life.

The 2023 edition includes four categories of talented migrants: highly skilled workers, foreign entrepreneurs, university students and start-up founders. This classification highlights the various challenges and opportunities that await potential migrants upon arrival in the host country.

At a recent launch event organized by the OECD, Stefano Scarpetta, Director of Employment, Labor and Social Affairs, praised the relevance of the new indicators. Jean-Christophe Dumont, Head of the OECD's International Migration Department, presented the main results of the indicators. Germany is still considered an attractive destination for foreign students and entrepreneurs, but compared to countries such as Australia, Sweden and Canada it only offers average conditions for highly qualified academics.

The event's panelists, including Julia Borggräfe from BMAS and representatives from the European Trade Union Confederation, discussed the political dimensions of attractiveness indicators and the need for increased collaboration to improve conditions for international talent in Germany and other OECD countries.

In view of the growing global competition for highly qualified workers, a strategic realignment in recruiting measures is essential. This is the only way Germany can maintain and secure its position as an attractive location for international talent.

The Wübbens Foundation provides further information on this topic detailed insights, while the OECD in its reports refers to the updated indicators refers to talent attractiveness. The Bertelsmann Foundation also has interesting findings published on the importance of international migration.