Five universities are revolutionizing MINT entry for internationals!

Five universities are revolutionizing MINT entry for internationals!

In an exciting twist, five universities in Germany have won the MINTchallenge International, which aims to make it easier for international students from the so-called MINT subjects (mathematics, computer science, natural and technical sciences) to enter the German job market. This initiative was launched in collaboration between the Stifterverband and the Fritz Henkel Foundation and marks an important step in combating the shortage of skilled workers in these key areas.

The MINTchallenge came about to address the large gap in the German labor market, which currently stands at almost 290,000 skilled workers. Universities are now faced with the task of improving the integration experience of international students and effectively integrating them into German society and the labor market.

The winning projects

The competition jury chose five innovative projects that take different approaches to supporting international students. These projects not only offer language courses and social integration opportunities, but also practical support to make entry into the German job market easier. An example of this is the implementation of thinkathons in which international students can work with companies to develop solutions to specific challenges.

• Technische Hochschule Brandenburg: „Frauencafé für internationale Studentinnen“
• Technische Universität Chemnitz: „Career Coach“
• Technische Universität Dortmund: „Internationale Karrieremesse an der TU Dortmund“
• Technische Universität Dresden: „ThinkTUon – Integration internationaler Studierender in den deutschen Arbeitsmarkt durch Thinkathons“
• Hochschule Reutlingen: „DESIGNING YOUR MINT STUDIES & WORK-LIFE @ TEC REUTLINGEN Gruppen-Coaching-Programm“

Each of these projects receives funding of 5,000 euros to support their implementation. The implementation of these ideas begins in November, where the universities will engage intensively with external experts in a workshop phase in order to further develop their approaches.

The overarching goal of this initiative is to integrate more international MINT graduates into the German labor market and thus make a significant contribution to reducing the workforce gap. To this end, the various actors from the education system, business and civil society work together on creative solutions and strategies.

The MINTchallenge is part of the broader “Education Future Mission,” which aims to create an education system that meets the dynamic needs of the modern world. This mission is supported by the Alliance for MINT Professionals, which specifically addresses the challenges in the areas of education and work.

Specific information about the MINTchallenge International and the funded projects can be found on the Stifterverband’s website here.