Education and Research in Germany

The system for education and research in the Federal Republic of Germany is complex and distributed among actors of the so-called Bund (Federation) and the Länder (Federal States). Kooperation international gives an overview by featuring a commented list of links to relevant institutions and information resources of the education and research landscape, as well as a selection of strategy documents and reports covering the German general and internationalisation policies and activities on education, research and innovation.

• German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
  Education and research are a Federal Government policy priority, which is reflected in the development of the funding it is making available to these fields. The BMBF works to promote the talent of tomorrow. Regardless of whether it’s initial job training or continuing education, lifelong learning or new technologies – the BMBF website provides information on educational policies and research facilities in Germany.
  https://www.bmbf.de/bmbf/en/

• German academic exchange service (DAAD)
  The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is one of the world′s largest intermediary organisations in its field, supporting over 100,000 German and international students und researchers around the globe each year. The DAAD also promotes internationalisation efforts at German universities, promotes German studies and the German language abroad and assists developing countries in establishing effective universities. The DAAD website provides information on various study programmes and scholarships.
  https://www.daad.de/en/

• Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK)
  The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs is the oldest conference of ministers in Germany and plays a significant role as an instrument for the coordination and development of education in the country. KMK provides for a web page outlining basic structures in the German educational system.
  https://www.kmk.org/kmk/information-in-english.html
   
• German University Rectors' Conference (Hochschulrektorenkonferenz)
  The German Rectors' Conference/Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK) is the voluntary association of state and state-recognised universities in Germany. The HRK is the political and public voice of universities and provides a forum for the process of forming joint policies and practices. It addresses all manner of topics related to universities: research, teaching and learning, continuing professional education for academics, knowledge and technology transfer, international cooperation and internationalisation at home, as well as administrative self-management.
  https://www.hrk.de/home/

• Higher Education Compass
  The search application provided by the German Rectors' Conference comprises Higher Education Institutes, Degree Programmes and Doctoral Studies.
  https://www.hochschulkompass.de/en/ 

• Eduserver - Education in Germany
  Eduserver, the English language version of the German Education Server, provides access and background information regarding the German education system and its international context. The portal is provided by the Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education (DIPF).
  https://www.eduserver.de/

• Alumniportal Deutschland
  The Alumniportal Deutschland is a social network designed to promote networking and sharing of information among Germany-Alumni, companies, universities and organisations. It offers its users the opportunity to get in touch with Germany-Alumni from around the world as well as companies in order to discuss specialist issues, develop their skills and benefit from the expertise of others.
  https://www.alumniportal-deutschland.org/en/

• The German higher education system (YouTube Video)
  Learn more about the German higher education system, the different types of universities and the degrees they offer.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWyhOfniFpk&feature=youtu.be&list=PLII8WdL8T4qKVa5tam3WB90GrpYOULhsc

• DAAD: International Programmes in Germany  
  Search by course type, course language or field of study on about 2.000 programmes
  https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/international-programmes/en/ 
   
• DAAD: Language and Short Courses in Germany
  Search by course type, course language or field of study on over 350 courses 
  https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/sommerkurse/en/

• Recognition Finder
  The portal Recognition in Germany offers information on recognition of foreign professional qualifications in several languages.
  https://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/html/en/

• German Office for International Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training (GOVET)
  GOVET is an essential component of the strategy of the Federal Government to move towards greater cohesion in international vocational education and training cooperation by delivering services from a single source. GOVET provides specialist support to the Federal Government and acts as the main cooperation partner in vocational education training for national and international stakeholders.
  https://www.bibb.de/govet.international/en/index.php
   
• iMOVE Training - Made in Germany
  iMOVE’s objective is to promote international collaboration and the initiation of cooperation and business relationships in vocational training and continuing education. iMOVE is an initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). iMOVE is part of the international division at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in Bonn.
  https://www.imove-germany.de/en
   
• Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB) 

  The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is recognised as a centre of excellence for vocational research and for the progressive development of vocational education and training (VET) in Germany. BIBB works to identify future challenges in VET, stimulate innovation in national and international vocational systems, and develop new, practice-oriented solutions for both initial and continuing vocational education and training.
  https://www.bibb.de/en/index.php

• Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (PAD) 
  The Pädagogischer Austauschdienst is the sole public organisation in Germany working on behalf of the Federal States to promote international exchange and cooperation in the school sector. The PAD is a department of the Secretariat of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (Kultusministerkonferenz):
  https://www.kmk-pad.org/ueber-den-pad/english-francais#c2652

• Research in Germany - Land of Ideas
  The “Research in Germany” portal is an information platform and contact point for all looking to find out more about Germany's research landscape and its latest research achievements. One key goal of the portal is to provide an overview of the research and funding opportunities in Germany.
  https://www.research-in-germany.org/en/

• GERiT – German Research Institutions
  GERiT provides an overview of 29,000 research institutions in Germany, with institutional profiles, job vacancies, the doctoral regulations for specific institutions and subject areas, and links to DFG-funded projects. GERiT replaces the Research Explorer.
  https://www.gerit.org/en
   
• German Research Foundation (DFG)
  The DFG is the self-governing organisation for science and research in Germany. It serves all branches of science and the humanities. Its membership consists of German research universities, non-university research institutions, scientific associations and the Academies of Science and the Humanities. One of the DFG's main responsibilities is to support international cooperation in research. The most important aim of the DFG's international activities is to intensify international cooperation between researchers, scientific and academic institutions and funding organisations and to systematically identify and utilise new potential for cooperation. The DFG is a member of several scientific and science policy associations at European and international level.
  https://www.dfg.de/en/
   
• Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
  The Foundation promotes academic cooperation between excellent scientists and scholars from abroad and from Germany. Research fellowships and research awards allow coming to Germany to work on a research project with a host and collaborative partner. As an intermediary organisation for German foreign cultural and educational policy the Foundation promotes international cultural dialogue and academic exchange.
  https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/en/
   
• Research Landscape
  Overview offered by the Research in Germany website: research performing organisations, facts and figures, maps, rankings and R&D policy framework
  https://www.research-in-germany.org/en/research-landscape/
   
• Research funding
  Overview offered by the Research in Germany website for international researchers considering a research stay in Germany
  https://www.research-in-germany.org/en/research-funding.html
   
• Freedom to Cooperate
  In line with the German Science Year 2024 on the topic of Freedom, the BMBF launched the campaign ‘Freedom to Cooperate’ on the ‘Research in Germany’ online portal. International researchers at German universities and research institutions provide insights into their projects with international partners. Selected funding programmes that support cross-border cooperation in research and innovation will also be presented.
  https://www.research-in-germany.org/en/our-service/topics-in-focus/freedom-to-cooperate.html

• Future Research and Innovation Strategy
  The Federal Government, under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), has developed the "Future Research and Innovation Strategy" across all ministries. With this strategy, the Federal Government defines the goals, milestones and priorities of its research and innovation policy for the coming years..
  https://www.bmbf.de/SharedDocs/Publikationen/de/bmbf/FS/747580_Zukunftsstrategie_Forschung_und_Innovation_en.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=2
   
• Internationalisation of Education, Science and Research - Strategy of the Federal Government ("Internationalization Strategy")
  The Strategy outlines how the international dimension of Germany’s education, science and innovation system will be designed in future. It addresses digital transformation, the increasing competition for knowledge and markets, environmental change, and the causes and effects of migration and flight and proposes approaches to action. 
  https://www.bmbf.de/bmbf/en/international-affairs/worldwide-networking/internationalization-strategy/internationalization-strategy_node.html
   
• Africa Strategy of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research
  The Strategy was drafted in cooperation with African partners and addresses challenges facing both Africa and Germany. The publication gives an overview of the objectives, priorities and instruments of cooperation with Africa in education, science and research. The focus is on innovation, skills development and relevance to application.
  https://www.bmbf.de/bmbf/en/international-affairs/worldwide-networking/middle-east-and-africa/the-africa-strategy-of-the-bmbf.html
   
• Excellence Strategy
  The aim of the Excellence Strategy is to ensure that German universities fare even better in the face of international competition and achieve even more academic excellence. It consists of the funding lines "Excellence Clusters" and "Universities of Excellence".
  https://www.bmbf.de/bmbf/en/academia/excellence-strategy/excellence-strategy_node.html
  
  The website "Excellence Strategy" provides information on the program as well as the funded projects and overall strategies.

• EFI: Reports on Research, Innovation and Technological Performance in Germany
  The annual reports of the Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EFI) provide an analysis of the German innovation system in an international and temporal comparison, evaluate Germany's perspectives as a location for research and innovation, and present proposals for a national research and innovation policy.
  https://www.e-fi.de/en/publications/reports
   
• BMBF: Reports on International Research Cooperation in Education, Science and Research
  Since the Internationalisation Strategy was launched in 2017, the Reports of the Federal Government on International Cooperation in Education, Science and Research regularly outline the progress made in achieving the goals contained in the strategy and in implementing the European Research Area (ERA) Strategy.
  2019-2020 report -  Political summary
   
• BMBF: Federal Reports on Research and Innovation
  The biennial reports (in English only short versions are available) provide an overview on the activities of the federal and state governments and present the elements of the German research and innovation system.
  2024  | 2022  | 2020  | 2018
   
• KMK: The Education System in the Federal Republic of Germany 2018/2019
  The National Dossier: The Education System in the Federal Republic of Germany 2018/2019 been drawn up by the Secretariat of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs each year since 1993 as part of the Information Network on Education in Europe (EURYDICE).
  https://www.kmk.org/dokumentation-statistik/informationen-zum-deutschen-bildungssystem/dossier-englisch.html
   
• BMBF: Reports on Vocational Education and Training
  The reports are annually published by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Division of  Framework Conditions for Vocational Training.
  2023  | 2022  | 2021  | 2020
   
• European Commission: Education and Training Monitor: Country reports Germany
  The Education and Training Monitor presents the European Commission's annual analysis of how education and training systems evolve across the EU.
  2024  |  2023  |​​​​​​​ 2022  | 2021
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• European Commission: European Research Area (ERA) Country Report 2023 Germany
  The ERA country reports provide qualitative and quantitative information on the implementation processes. Quantitatively the reports are based on the ERA Dashboard and its related indicators. This is the first progress report on German efforts in the ERA.
  https://european-research-area.ec.europa.eu/documents/country-report-germany