In recent years, German universities have become important players in international scientific cooperation with countries in the Global South. These partnerships are part of an active foreign science policy and contribute to Germany's positioning in a changing world order. On 3 and 4 December, around 120 international participants will therefore discuss the future of university cooperation between development aid and equal partnership at a conference organised by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Berlin.

"Academic exchange with university partners in the Global South is a win-win situation: it contributes to the strategic strengthening of Germany and to the development of local institutions," explained DAAD President Prof. Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee in the run-up to the conference. International university cooperation is now a reliable component of German foreign science policy. "It builds trust, opens up new geopolitical opportunities, promotes innovation and contributes to international competitiveness, combats the shortage of skilled workers and helps to overcome global challenges," Mukherjee continued.     

International university partnerships as a strategic factor 

The HSI Monitor – a joint project of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the DAAD, the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) – illustrates the scope and strategic importance of these university partnerships: in 2024, German universities maintained 7,441 collaborations with partner institutions in the Global South worldwide. More than 110,000 researchers from these countries published specialist publications together with German scientists and researchers. More than 20,000 doctoral students from these regions conducted research at German universities – that is around two-thirds of all international doctoral students in Germany. A total of around 260,000 students from these countries were enrolled at German universities last year. 

Ghana: Scientific partner in a dynamic region of the world

Ghana is one example of the importance of international university partnerships. The country has developed into an important centre of science in West Africa and is one of Germany's closest academic partners in the region. The number of collaborations between universities in both countries has tripled to 65 in recent years. In 2024, scientists from Germany and Ghana published around 720 joint publications, mainly in the health sciences and climate research.

With its new branch office in Accra, the DAAD is further expanding its commitment in West Africa. During his visit to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in November, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also highlighted the good prospects for bilateral cooperation in science. 

Conference: International partnerships in geopolitically challenging times

The DAAD conference "Creating Impact in Challenging Times" will bring together international Senior Experts from science, university management and politics on 3 and 4 December. The discussion will focus on strategies for sustainable university cooperation that are based on common interests and contribute to solving global challenges. The DAAD sees itself as a facilitator and moderator of an international dialogue that strengthens science as an instrument of long-term partnerships. The conference is sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

Background

DAAD activities in university cooperation with the Global South

The DAAD is involved in various programmes to strengthen high-performing higher education systems in the Global South and expand scientific cooperation with Germany. It also focuses specifically on promoting young academics in order to expand their career opportunities and bring them into fruitful and long-term partnerships with German institutions.

The most important programmes include:

• "SDG Partnerships", which promote university partnerships on topics related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as climate adaptation, pandemic preparedness and sustainable economic development. 
• The Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies (DIES) programme, which improves institutional management at universities in the Global South through training courses and dialogue events.
• "Sur Place/Third Country Scholarships", which enable prospective specialists and managers to obtain qualifications up to doctoral level in their home country or neighbouring regions, thus supporting the establishment of high-performing universities locally. 

Offer for media representatives

During the conference, senior experts from foreign universities will be available for discussions. The DAAD will be happy to arrange contacts with international guests on request.