Group of four international, smiling students.

»ARAPiS« project

Research project on the role and labor market potential of international students at the University of Jena
Group of four international, smiling students.
Image: Mediteraneo (stock.adobe.com)

»Analysis of the role and labor market potential  
of international students at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena  
in the context of Thuringia (ARAPiS)«

Background and demand

From an economic perspective, universities have been described in the past primarily in terms of their contribution to regional economic growth and their ability to generate innovations. However, in view of demographic developments, the recruitment and retention of skilled workforce in Germany as a location for innovation is increasingly coming to the attention of business, politics and science. 

Only recently has the question of what contribution universities can make to securing a skilled workforce gained in importance. As the largest university in the Free State of Thuringia, Friedrich Schiller University also has an important role to play in this context.

It attracts students from all over the world and releases around 400 international graduates into the job market every year. International students not only contribute to a diverse campus life, but also to the university's regional, national and international reputation. They represent considerable potential for the Thuringian labor market. It is no coincidence that the inclusion of international students in the state's labor market is explicitly formulated as a goal and challenge in the current guidelines for the development of higher education in Thuringia 2026-2030 (TMWWDG, 2024).  

While the current and expected shortage of skilled professionals means that it is of central importance to take greater account of universities in future concepts for securing skilled professionals, the manifest racism observed in the Federal State in recent years and the significant rise in right-wing populism raise doubts as to whether this potential can currently be exploited to the extent required.

Status

The reasons why students do not remain in the German labor market were examined in the projects HiThExternal link (final reportExternal link) and WOM de, on which ARAPiS is based. The project also makes reference to the study on experiences of discrimination at universitiespdf, 3 mb · de and studies how these affect the intention to look for a position in Germany and in Thuringia in particular.

The political environment has, nonetheless, changed considerably post-pandemic since the aforementioned projects were completed. Questions about the significance of the current political environment, employers' reservations, models of successful integration, etc. are to be systematically addressed in ARAPiS.

Logo des ARAPiS-Projekts (Schriftzug ARAPiS weiß auf blauem Grund)

Graphic: Sabine Müller

PROCEJT OBJECTIVES

The project has three objectives:

Primarily, a systematic survey of Thuringian companies is to provide detailed information on the proportion of international students who have made a successful transition into the labor market. In addition, the employment opportunities available for international students in the Free State of Thuringia and the recruitment strategies of Thuringian companies are to be systematically investigated and recorded.

Secondly, qualitative interviews with both international skilled personnel after and international students before their transition into the labor market are used to identify success factors and subjectively experienced obstacles to remaining in Thuringia;

Thirdly, recommendations for different stakeholder groups (companies, students, universities) for securing skilled employees in the future will be derived from the findings, written down and made available to the relevant stakeholders. In this sense, the project as a complete whole should help to improve the inclusion of international students in the regional labor market and thus contribute to reducing the shortage of skilled personnel in Thuringia. Overall, the project aims to utilize the potential of international students and at the same time strengthen the regional economy and community cohesion. The focus is on two target groups: Thuringian companies and international students and skilled professionals.

EXPECTED IMPACT

  • Description of the employment potential of international students for the subjects studied at the University of Jena
  • Presentation of strategies to promote the identification of students with the Free State of Thuringia 
  • Overview of best practices for the successful inclusion of students in local companies
  • Recommendations for improving the welcoming culture for international skilled professionals
  • Concrete design of measures and integration of recommendations into the Career Point's portfolio of services, in particular the use of synergies with the FIT project (Fostering International Talents) de, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
  •  Transfer of the results to the Thuringian universities

International Office

  1. Hillinger, Claudia, Dr Project Management
    Internationales Büro
    Dr. Claudia Hillinger
    Image: Uni Jena

KomRex – Centre for Research on Right-Wing Extremism, Democracy Education and Societal Integration

  1. Henn, Sebastian, Prof. Dr Focus: Companies
    Chair of Economic Geography
  2. Lembert, Fenna Research assistant
    Chair of Economic Geography
  3. Kretzmann, Jenny Research assistant
    Lehrstuhl Wirtschaftsgeographie
  4. Rothmund, Tobias, Univ.-Prof. Dr Focus: Students
    Zentrum für Rechtsextremismusforschung, Demokratiebildung und gesellschaftliche Integration
  5. Dellagiacoma, Laura Research assistant
    Zentrum für Rechtsextremismusforschung, Demokratiebildung und gesellschaftliche Integration

Career Point

  1. Wilk, Verena Career Service, Counselor
    Career Point
  • Project Duration

    July 2024 until December 2025

  • Project Funding

    The project is funded by the structure and innovation budget of the Thuringian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society.

International Office • Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena (Germany)