International Mobility of Researchers. Challenges and Chances

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1 International Mobility of Researchers: Challenges and Chances Workshop: International Mobility of Researchers March 28, 2007 Paris Ulrike Albrecht Melanie Schmitz: 4c-Bild 4c-Bild

2 Research Landscape Germany

3 Research and mobility Cutting Edge Research is not possible without internationalisation Gap analysis for Germany: Number of students from abroad increased from (1980) to (2006) Professors/tenured scientists and scholars are still underrepresented

4 Researchers coming to Germany academics from abroad in Germany (2004) (increase of about 10% compared with 2001) postdocs 13% graduates 55% scientists/scholars/ professors 24% no information 8% Source: HIS, 2006: Wissenschaft weltoffen, Bertelsmann

5 Research and international mobility funding organisations in Germany German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft / German Research Foundation (DFG) Private Organisations (Bosch Foundation, etc.).

6 Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Areas of Work sponsoring top-flight, foreign scientists and scholars to come to Germany by means of research fellowships and research awards support of cultural exchange with Germany strengthening cutting-edge research in Germany through internationalisation building and maintaining a worldwide network of researchers councelling of internationally mobile researchers

7 Humboldt Foundation: Financing The annual budget is approx. 60 mill. EUR, more than 97% of which is publicly financed by the Federation. Financing is distributed as follows: AA: Federal Foreign Office BMZ: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development BMBF: Federal Ministry of Education and Research

8 Origin of Humboldt Fellows : a total of 2,508 new research fellows from abroad

9 What attracts internationally mobile researchers from abroad to Germany? Excellent research environment International recognition of high level research in specific disciplines Scientific networks individual contacts with the scientific host attractive and internationally competitive environment (although there is still a need for structural changes in Germany and Europe) Personal contacts with or family links to Germany Interest in German culture Prior knowledge and experience with the research environment in Germany Source: Jöns, 2003: Grenzüberschreitende Mobilität und Kooperation in den Wissenschaften, Heidelberg

10 Important factor for researchers` mobility: good conditions for families About a third of the Humboldt Research Fellows are accompanied by their spouses Accompanying partners Humboldt Research Fellows Source: Humboldt Foundation

11 Obstacles for Mobility missing transferability of pensions etc. from one country to the other lack of dual career support, no sufficient childcare infrastructure rigid career patterns lack of support for mobility adminstrative/legal obstacles (immigration law, work permits etc.) lack of information Source: German Mobility Centre at the Humboldt Foundation

12 Activities to minimize/remove obstacles Removing administrative and legal obstacles on a political level Providing better information Improvement of councelling Better conditions for families / Dual career opportunities Funding programmes for mobility Funding programmes for research collaboration Partnerships between countries and/or universities and research institutes Compatibility of career paths in different countries

13 Some instruments in Germany: 1. The German Mobility Centre To facilitate cross-border, research-related mobility the German Mobility Centre at the Humboldt Foundation provides information and personal councelling for internationally mobile researchers: fellowships and funding resources job offers administrative and practical information like on immigration, residence, taxation, schools, accomodation etc. Internet portal and contacts:

14 2. The Mobility Portal - part of the European Network of Mobility Centres

15 3. Welcome Centres Best-Practice Competition 2006 "Welcome Centres for internationally mobile Researchers Cooperation between the Humboldt Foundation, the Deutsche Telekom Foundation and the Donors Association for the Promotion of Science and the Humanities in Germany Prize money 3-times 125,000 EUR for putting the best concepts into practice

16 Mobility of Researchers - A summary International mobility and internationalisation of research is an important factor for excellence of research There is a variety of motivations for researchers to be mobile The openess for mobility depends on the career level and differs from subject to subject and country to country Obstacles on an administrative level have to be removed Scientists and scholars interested in mobility must be supported actively (Mobility portal, welcome centres)

17 Thank you for your attention! Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung Jean-Paul-Straße Bonn Germany Tel: Fax: