Future vision: living space for international students in Cologne

Future vision: living space for international students in Cologne

affordable living space as the key to the internationalization of German universities

Cologne, September 9, 2024 - On the occasion of the event "Campus of the Future: Living Space for International Students", the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Studies (DSW) (DSW) have called up politicians and universities to work more active for the construction and renovation of living space for students. This initiative is a central part of the current discussion about the internationalization of the study landscape in Germany.

The problem of living space lacks has become increasingly important in recent years. Current data show that students spend about 54 percent of their income for rent - a worryingly high proportion compared to only 25 percent of the total population. This fact not only throws a light on the social injustice that students experience, but also makes it clear how essential an adequate range of housing is to ensure the ability to study.

Prof. Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee, President of the DAAD, emphasizes that Germany is extremely attractive internationally. The country has now taken third place among the most popular study locations worldwide, which is primarily due to the high quality of university formation. Nevertheless, it is crucial that the infrastructural framework, in particular the living space, keeps pace with this growth. This is the only way to attract and keep the required specialists in business and science as a place of study.

In addition, DSW President Prof. Dr. Beate A. Schücking that at a time when the internationalization of German universities is politically wanted, support for the construction and the renovation of affordable living space is urgently needed. The federal-state program "Young Living" is considered an important step in the right direction, but the support from the countries is essential to find sustainable solutions. The current increase in publicly funded study places by 52 percent since 2007 has shown increasing demand, while the dormitory places have only grown by 7 percent and therefore cannot keep up.

Another central topic of the event is the role of student works that take on a decisive function in the social-academic integration of international students. These facilities offer programs that help prospective students to find their way around their new surroundings and to integrate. Prof. Dr. However, Schücking points out that these programs have so far hardly been financially supported by the countries, with the exception of Bavaria, which urgently needs to be changed.

At the hybrid event, which could be followed both on site and by livestream, more than 300 representatives from federal and state ministries, universities and student organizations were present. This width of participants shows the great interest in the topic and the urgency of developing solutions that benefit both local and international students.

For the future direction, it is crucial that the political decision -makers work together to develop a long -term strategy that not only promotes the construction of living space, but also enables the integration of international students into the German university system. This is the only way to secure Germany's competitiveness as a place of study and to meet the challenges of the global market.