ESU hails doubling of Germans studying abroad
BERLIN – From 2000 to 2008, the number of German students studying abroad almost doubled, according to University World News. The European Students’ Union (ESU) warmly welcomes this development as it has been advocating the benchmark of 20 percent students’ mobility by 2020 for a long time.
ESU’s Chairperson, Bert Vandenkendelaere: “We think this is a great step in the right direction and we would like to see that other European countries make it more attractive for their students to study abroad as well. Too often it is still the case that only students from well-earning families are able to study abroad.”
The number of German students studying abroad almost doubled from 52.200 in 2000 to 102.000 in 2008. This says a survey conducted by the German Welfare Service, DSW, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. According to the outcomes of the survey, Germany has also attracted more students from other countries. The number of students from other countries coming to Germany to study rose by around 250 percent in 11 years.
The results suggest that, compared to other European students, Germans are the most mobile. Only a few other, non-European countries, such as China, India and South Korea send more students abroad. Of Germany’s roughly two million students, 15 percent had visited a foreign country in connection with their studies. Vandenkendelaere: “
The German government has a long standing tradition of financially supporting their students to study abroad. Financing, together with problems related to the recognition of study programmes, form the biggest barriers to more and better mobility in the EU.”
According to the survey, Spain, France and the UK were the most popular countries for German students for a study period abroad. Most of the students that come to Germany for a study period, come from China, followed by Russia, Poland, Bulgaria and Turkey.
Published 17 January 2011END
For more information, please contact:
Bert Vandenkendelaere, ESU Chairperson: +32473669892/bert@esu-online.org
Marianne Slegers, ESU Communications Manager: +32473669894/marianne@esu-online.org
