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EDUCATION & KNOWLEDGE
TOPIC
NETWORKING ACADEMIA
Globalisation is also presenting the German
beneficial, for having returned to their home
academic landscape with new challenges. The
countries, they often become important net-
ability to network knowledge and academics
work partners for further collaborations.
plays a major role here. In this respect, Germany has positioned itself well. Almost half
Many academics from abroad are attracted to
of its academic publications are now written
Germany by the country’s excellent research
by researchers working on international co-
infrastructure, which includes the opportun-
operation projects. According to data com-
ity to work on large-scale research facilities,
piled for the “Wissenschaft Weltoffen 2015”
which in some cases are the only ones of their
report, which provides facts and figures on
kind in the world. The Helmholtz Association
the international nature of studies and re-
alone operates some 50 large-scale facilities
search in Germany, there were 38,094 aca-
for a wide range of research fields. Numerous
demic and artistic members of staff, among
academics from abroad, who are leading in
them 2,886 professors, working at the 399
their field, come to German universities on a
higher education institutions – that is 10 per-
Humboldt Professorship, Germany’s most
cent of all employees. Since 2006 the number
highly endowed research prize, which is worth
of foreign academic staff has risen by 74 per-
five million euros and is awarded by the Hum-
centage points; the number of professors
boldt Foundation.
grew by 46 percent. The recently simplified
visa procedures for academics from non-EU
17,686 German academics have received
member states has likewise played a role in
funding to conduct research abroad; the most
promoting this development.
important sponsors are the German Research
Foundation (DFG), the European Marie Curie
A positive trend can moreover be observed in
Fellowship programme, and in particular the
the number of foreign researchers receiving
German Ac FV֖2W