BTU scores highly in the DAAD's "Campus Initiative for International Experts"

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has a total of around 120 million euros in funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for its Skilled Workers Initiative until 2028. The two funding lines of the program focus on the promotion of international talent for integration into studies and the job market (FIT) and the adaptation qualification of international academics for the German job market (Profi plus). BTU was able to score points with projects in both funding lines. From April 2024, a total of 114 projects at 104 universities across Germany will be funded.

"We have more than 40 percent international students at BTU," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Wolfram Berger, Vice President for Internationalization at the university. "Many of them are very interested in technical and engineering disciplines and, in particular, in working and living in Germany and our region. Skilled workers that we urgently need to ensure the success of structural development and transformation in Lusatia. As part of the skilled workers initiative, we now have the opportunity to implement concrete measures to support foreign students in their transition to the job market."

Mareike Kunze, Head of the International Relations Office and responsible for the projectFIT@BTU, adds: "The funding in the project offers us the opportunity to take our support for students to a new level. We are planning targeted offers for our international students along the student life cycle. Ensuring student success includes, for example, peer-based study start offers, language learning advice and flexible online formats, as well as key qualifications and interlinked matching tools for a successful transition into the German job market. Our focus here is on the long-term, structural anchoring of the new modules at the university. We are also building on our good experience and the trusting cooperation between companies and our Career Center."

Heike Bartholomäus heads the Centre for Continuing Education and plans to expand the IQ@BB - IntegrativeQualifizierung@Brandenburg project for international academics to offer a flexible and needs-based range of certificates based on individual life contexts. "We benefit both from our almost ten years of experience with this particular target group and from the expanded framework conditions for further education at BTU. We have learned that the skills our participants bring with them are extremely valuable. Smooth transitions between the various educational biographies and successful integration into the German labor market are essential. Through our cooperation with economic and social partners from the region, we have already gained valuable experience in recruiting international skilled workers. We are delighted that we can now further develop our approach."

Background
The Skilled Workers Initiative consists of two program lines: the promotion of international talent for integration into studies and the labour market (FIT) and the adaptation qualification of foreign academics for the German labour market (Profi plus).

FIT program line: Promoting international talent for integration into studies and the job market
As part of the "FIT" program, German universities can support international students seeking a final degree in Germany with additional offers at the start of their studies, during their studies and during their transition into the German job market. One focus is on career-related advice and support. The promotion of networking between universities, companies and business-related institutions is also intended to facilitate the transition into the German job market for international graduates.

Profi plus program line: Academic adjustment funding for the German labour market
In the "Profi plus" program, German universities can fund the professional qualification of international academics with a foreign university degree. In the program, international academics receive additional specialist knowledge for the German job market and can expand their language and social skills. Cooperation with German companies and institutions from the respective professional fields also makes it possible to gain practical experience and build professional networks.