Syrian students at TU Dortmund: Advancement into the German job market!

Syrian students at TU Dortmund: Advancement into the German job market!

The integration of Syrian refugees in Germany has changed significantly since 2015. Especially at universities like Technical University of Dortmund this change is clearly visible. At that time, around a million refugees, many from Syria, came to Germany. Only 120 Syrian students were enrolled at TU Dortmund in the first year, but this number doubled by 2018. In 2021, 350 Syrian students were already enrolled at the university, with the majority choosing engineering bachelor's programs. What is particularly noteworthy is that around one in four Syrian students is enrolled in the computer science department, followed by architecture, urban planning and civil engineering.

The increasing enrollment of Syrian students is a positive sign for integration. Language barriers initially posed a hurdle, but the demand for language courses to prepare for university studies was enormous from 2015 onwards. Hundreds of language course grants were arranged through the clearinghouse for refugees. The proportion of students with a German Abitur currently makes up 40 percent, and the proportion of Syrian students who have dual citizenship is also growing. Around one in five Syrian students has both Syrian and German citizenship.

Employment and demand for skilled workers

Around 1 million Syrians currently live in Germany, most of whom are well integrated into the labor market. Studies show that a significant proportion of the Syrian population in Germany, around 577,000, is of working age. Of these, around 155,000 are currently registered as unemployed. However, the majority of Syrians in Germany have access to jobs in the social and healthcare sectors as well as in climate-relevant crafts.

The relevance of Syrian employees for the German economy is often underestimated. While over 213,000 Syrians were employed subject to social security contributions between 2023 and 2024, many of them contributed to cushioning the shortage of skilled workers. Syrian specialists, for example, often work in professions that are urgently looking for qualified workers in Germany, including health and nursing care. Over 2,000 Syrian specialists work in the healthcare sector, while the demand there is around 17,000 skilled workers.

Integration and challenges

The integration of Syrian graduates into the German labor market is influenced by various factors. More than 115 Syrian graduates have graduated from TU Dortmund University in the last ten years, with half receiving their diploma and bachelor's certificates in the last two years. The TU Dortmund supports international students through initiatives such as the International Career Fair and the Tandem2Job mentoring program to make it easier for them to enter the German job market.

However, there are also challenges such as slow initial integration and deskilling. Refugee women have a significantly lower employment rate (29%) compared to men (73%), due to family obligations and lower language skills. The need for targeted support measures to improve language skills and recognize qualifications is increasingly being recognized. The Discussion about political measures to ensure that working Syrians have a chance to stay is also important in order to give them planning security and to continue writing their success stories.

After the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, the return of almost a million Syrians from Germany is being discussed. Despite uncertain regulations under the new federal government, many are of the opinion that integration has already become an important part of German society. Continued support for Syrian students and professionals will remain crucial for the future development of integration into German society.