80 international graduates of the Studienbrücke programme travelled from all over Germany to the Ruhr University in Bochum for their first alumni reunion.

There are many hurdles on the path from abstract idea to tangible product development. Entrepreneurial workshops like those run by the DAAD and the Falling Walls Foundation can give academics the necessary tools to overcome these challenges, and to awaken their inherent entrepreneurial potential. Three participants in the ‘From PhD to Innovator’ workshop talk about their experiences.

Developing visionary solutions: ‘From PhD to Innovator’ was the title of the workshop in which DAAD alumni and scholarship holders had the opportunity to dive into the topic of entrepreneurship in May. A cooperation between the DAAD, the Falling Walls Foundation and the Young Entrepreneurs.

Climate change, waste separation, coal mining: the IJP scholarship for international journalists facilitates time-consuming investigation work and thinking outside the box. Alumni speak about the lasting impression of their exchange.

Entrepreneurial skills are becoming ever more important at higher education institutions. Aspiring and innovative entrepreneurs are not merely the object of research in this respect, but also the explicit target of academic start-up counselling and support. Never before has the step from studies to entrepreneurship been so easy – at least in some towns and cities.

A master’s degree is seen as an easy route for transitioning into the German labor market. While that can be true for some, there are some common pitfalls you should be aware of – find out here what you should look out for.

German is a popular language in academia, and there are many reasons to learn German as an academic language. If you are considering studying or researching in Germany (or you already do), here are three strategies for learning academic German.

The Alumniportal Deutschland maintains contact among participants in the ‘Horizonte’ community project, which gives professionals from Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon an insight into how German companies operate. The latter can in turn benefit from having contacts in a lucrative market, albeit one that is not always straightforward. A win-win situation.

The Alumniportal Deutschland ran a digital conversation course at two different language levels from September to December 2021. The course enabled participants to increase their vocabulary and to discuss various social issues. The format will continue this year.

In conversation: why is a research internship always worthwhile? What are the pros and cons of digital implementation? And how do I get the best out of the experience? These matters are discussed by RISE alumna Maresa Schröder and scholarship holder Niclas Popp.

For international students in Germany there are different ways to further their qualification for the German job market. Here are some tips to enhance your education besides studying and to create a well-rounded profile. 

Germany has been attracting international students in large numbers. But the pandemic has created doubts about studying abroad. Disseminating concrete information about study conditions and providing flexibility in relation to scholarships are crucial in enabling German universities to continue to attract the best and brightest from different continents.