Can Germany attract US researchers? | DW News
Can Germany attract US researchers? | DW News
Trump has slashed education funding, meaning many US universities are facing hiring freezes and budget constraints. Economist Monika Schnitzer speaks to DW's Marie Sina about the opportunities for German universities and research institutions to tempt academics and scientists to cross the pond.
I think this is related to Europe as it may try to take advantage of the current situation in the US to its advantage. This one focuses on Germany.
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In my view not speaking English is the biggest disadvantage of many European countries:
People from other countries will have a substantially easier way of integrating into society in the UK, Canada etc. because there they won't have to choose between having to learn a new language or have difficulties finding jobs and navigating everyday life (like joining a sports club etc. ). Here in Germany the trend goes definitely towards more English speaking companies, projects and hobby groups but obviously English speaking countries will always have a substantial lead in that. Honestly if I thought about emigrating, my first thoughts would also be about some English speaking countries. So you will get by in Germany with English but it's highly desirable to learn German in the long run (which isn't only negative as learning other languages is good for ones brain, widens the horizon and is kinda cool).
That being said (take it with a grain of salt as I might be biased) the European Union and Germany still are good options because of
- the amazing travel opportunities (Italian beaches, hiking in the Alps, millennia old cities like Rome, Paris and Prague etc.) just around the corner
- attractive citizenship path (in Germany maximum five years)
- relative democratic stability (in Germany: the AfD "only" has 20% voters with the remaining 80% strongly against cooperation and in big cities where most foreigners live it's substantially lower - moving into another European country is in the worst case also with hurdles)
- solid economy (in the past two years stagnating but for example the new infrastructure bill will change that probably)
- with for example the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Germany has some prestigious and productive research institutions
- ...
On a more meta level non-English speaking countries might also have a disadvantage due to not even being considered in the first place because they are less prominent in the English speaking media.
Edit: Btw. the wages and working conditions in Germany in public research aren't very high but I assume that applies worldwide to research, which isn't funded by a company. Edit2: The first points probably relate less to researchers than to other professionals as for scientific researchers it's more common to work in another country and to move on after some years (at least that's my perception as a non-expert).
The germany subreddit was brutal and said unless you live in Berlin or work for an english speaking company you will have a bad time. Perhaps it has changed more in the last years and it might be easier to get in settled without german. Its famously a tough language to learn. It is also not a 'digital' country which may put people off.
Have they changen from 8 years to 5 for all? And do they still require non-EU people to give up their other citizenship if they want German citizenships?
Berlin has an IT english speaking expat bubble. However when you look at the share of Americans in Germany on a county or city level, Berlin has a lot, but it certainly is not alone. Military bases are also a thing, but pretty much only in the south.
Have they changen from 8 years to 5 for all? And do they still require non-EU people to give up their other citizenship if they want German citizenships?
Yes it was changed relativly recently.
The 8 to 5 years is a good change.
Giving up your other citizenship (if you're not an EU/EEA country) is a really tough decision to take.
Why is it a tough decision? European passports are very "strong". They let you travel most of the world with little to no restrictions.
Is that a legitimate question?
You are being asked to give up your nationality which until that point has been your identity and how you interact with the world.
One of the first questions you get asked is "where are you from", and if you can't pass for looking and sounding like a German native then the next question is "where are you really from?".
It sounds quite arrogant and insincere of you to say and hope that this is not a common thought.
Is that a serious response?
You're assuming everybody thinks the same way as you do and can't imagine diverse thought. It sounds like you're quite arrogant, stuck in your ways, and easily offended by a harmless question and taking it as a personal attack.
Maybe you should take a second to consider that not the entire world has given in to US propaganda on identity politics and that people can be any nationality regardless of what they look. It shows your true colours.
Lmao
Travel, but not settle or work. For Americans going back to the US for better salaries is quite realistic. For poorer countries retiring in your country of origin is very attractive.
Good points. I do wish we lived in a world without passports, but alas, we're still dumb, territorial animals. It might take another thousand years to let go of that.