The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) hopes that the new US administration will give fresh impetus to the traditionally close relations between the two countries in the area of academic cooperation. The aim is to reduce isolationist tendencies and intensify exchange relations.

With the inauguration of Joe Biden as US President, DAAD President Professor Joybrato Mukherjee expects a return to normal academic relations between Germany and the USA. The planned appointment of Professor Eric Lander to a cabinet-level position as top scientific advisor is a clear indication that science is a high priority for the new government, he said.

'Together with our partner institutions in the United States, we’re hopeful that the new administration will swiftly put an end to the previous isolationist tendencies regarding the entry of students and researchers from all over the world,' said Mukherjee in Bonn. The more rigorous visa regulations planned by the Trump administration would have affected German academics and students, too. 'If the new administration conclusively rejects these plans, it will be a clear sign that the USA is once again committed to engaging in open relations with the world and pursuing international cooperation,' said Mukherjee.

He added that this was a welcome move in view of the pressure that universities and higher education in the US had come under in a number of areas over the past four years. 'We were concerned at the Trump administration’s attempts to interfere with university autonomy and also to curtail liberal visa regulations for online students, visiting scholars and doctoral students: it is our hope that these issues are now off the table.'

'There are encouraging signs emerging from the future administration with regard to tuition fees. Joe Biden and his team seem to be willing to tackle the country’s major challenges in the area of educational equity as well as international student mobility,' said Mukherjee.

He also noted that higher education institutions in Germany were breathing a sigh of relief – especially given the developments of the last few weeks – and were now aiming to build on this to create new momentum for academic exchange with the United States. According to Mukherjee, the DAAD senses that the last few years have brought home to American universities and scientific institutions the value of international alliances and partnerships – something that now needs to be tapped into: 'The numbers in academic exchange with the USA have slightly declined in recent years. Together with our member universities and partner institutions in the United States, we want to help reverse this trend. There’s a lot more we can achieve together with regard to the number of American students who come to Germany too,' said the DAAD President. 

In addition, the aim will be to explore new opportunities for academic relations with the USA. As a first step, the DAAD Competence Centre for International Academic Cooperation (KIWi) organised a public expert discussion on the subject yesterday.