Between labour shortages and right-wing populism: Experiences of international students in Thuringia. Recommendations & support for future job seekers!

Describtion

Overall, in Germany the shortage of skill workers has become a persistent challenge and is expected to increase in the coming years. In this context, international students are often seen as an important contribution to easing these shortages. Thus, universities are required not only to boost internationality and to provide international students with high-quality education, but also to facilitate their transition into the local labour market after graduation.

In Thuringia, where the shortage of skill workers is increasingly growing, the University of Jena is attracting a high number of international students – In 2025: 14% of the total number of students. However, the rise of right-wing populism at local level might make it more difficult for international students to remain and find an occupation in the region. From February to June 2025 within the ARAPiS Project interviews were conducted with international students who were looking for jobs and alumni of the University of Jena who found an occupation in Thuringia or elsewhere in Germany (N=37). Based on their experiences, recommendations are drawn for current international master and graduate students who would like to find an occupation in the (local) German market.

In this event, we would like to present the relevant results for international students and discuss further possibilities and support projects together with the director of ANSOLE, PD Dr. Daniel Egbe and with the Community Coach Natalie Adakh of the DaMOst project Step by Step into the Job through Community Coaches in East Germany.

Please join us and let us discuss together current and future possibilities!

In order to facilitate the organisation of the event please register by sending an email at laura.dellagiacoma@uni-jena.de