International students as the skilled workers of tomorrow: TU Braunschweig strengthens integration into the regional labour market Project SUCCESS receives DAAD funding of around 1.2 million euros

With the SUCCESS project, Technische Universität Braunschweig aims to integrate international students into the regional labour market in the long term and at the same time familiarise regional companies with the special requirements of international specialists. The project is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with around 1.2 million euros over four and a half years. SUCCESS stands for “Supporting Professional Competences & Career Opportunities within Regional Industry Ecosystems“ and is directed in particular at students of STEM degree programmes. STEM includes the fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology.

“The economy in our region, with its strong focus on the areas of mobility and IT, has a particular need for highly qualified specialists. At the same time, it offers excellent work and research opportunities for international graduates,” says TU President Professor Angela Ittel. “With the SUCCESS project, we want to further improve the opportunities for international graduates to enrich the region and gain a professional foothold.”

The SUCCESS project was developed by the International House and the Alumni & Career Service Centre at TU Braunschweig. The participating project partners are faculties of the university as well as the Braunschweig Regional Employers’ Association (AGV) and the Braunschweig Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). The latter two act as a hub for the regional economy and ensure that the planned measures and activities are closely aligned with the needs of local companies. In turn, the companies are given the opportunity to get to know future international graduates at an early stage and motivate them for a career in the company. Through the support of the project network, they can grow into attractive employers for international talent in the long term. All project partners will work together across the board in an International Career Lab.

“With currently approximately 1,900 international STEM students, TU Braunschweig can make a decisive contribution to tackling the challenges of the shortage of skilled workers in the region,” emphasises Professor Tatjana Schneider, Vice President for Internationalisation and Regional Relations at TU Braunschweig. “As part of the project, we want to create a continuous professional qualification programme for our students that they can access at all stages of their studies. Individual and personal support is at the centre of the project.”

The project period will begin in April 2024. Individual advice and coaching formats for entering the labour market and career paths will be developed, as well as an extensive programme of events with job-related German courses and pre-vocational qualification measures. The focus is also on networking international students with companies in the region through innovative dialogue formats and company contact events.

The new services build on existing programmes at TU Braunschweig and close remaining gaps. Thus, for the first time, an individualised advisory service of this complexity can be realised through project funding at TU Braunschweig.

The SUCCESS project is one of 114 projects that were selected to receive funding in a Germany-wide call for proposals by the DAAD as part of the “Campus Initiative for International Talents”. A total of around 120 million euros in funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) will be available for the initiative until 2028.

Further information can be found in the press release of the DAAD.