Addressing the challenges in education

To know more about education in Germany and the status quo in Saarland, we spoke to Professor Dr. Ing. Dieter Leonhard, President of the University of Applied Sciences in Saarbrücken (htw saar).

President Leonhard, climate change is considered the number one challenge in Germany and Europe. As it will be particularly affected by the consequences, the younger generation is demanding action from politicians. Is this also reflected in the number of applicants to the university and the types of courses attracting interest?

Yes and no. Yes, because we have a lot of students on our Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) courses who are very engaged in exploring solutions and ideas to protect the climate. Overall, though, we are currently seeing a decline in applicants. In the classical technology subjects, we have had 30% fewer applicants in the past three years, 25% fewer in electrical engineering, and we are even seeing fewer applicants in subjects related to renewable energies.

Does that mean this is generation is all talk and no action?

I wouldn’t like to single out and criticise a particular generation. Young people very often make very rational decisions. And the numbers are not definitive. In IT, applicant numbers are very robust. We have had very strong growth in civil engineering and even technical disciplines in healthcare are experiencing growth across Germany.

It is more of a shift in interests among applicants, or is the decline primarily due to the drop in university applications?

It is without doubt both. We have experienced fluctuating applicant numbers in the past. This is normal, but it could quickly become cause for alarm. It is something we experienced in the late 90s. Back then, there was a significant slump in applicant numbers in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and civil engineering, particularly after news of widespread redundancies among engineers. This is not currently a problem, but cyclical fluctuations can be quickly triggered if companies don’t mind sustainability when it comes to planning their human and other resources. That’s why I always stress to our industry partners the importance of thinking long term and taking responsible action when it comes to their training programmes.

The current trend in applicant numbers is not encouraging. How can you help ensure enough experts for the industry in Saarland if the pool of potential applicants continues to shrink?

Here at the university, we have already initiated many necessary countermeasures with a focus on “more internationalisation”, “more women in STEM” and “more dual study programmes”. However, such advances cannot be achieved purely through a package of organisational measures. What we are talking about is a transformation of the university, the likes of which we haven’t experienced in 50 years.

Can the university surmount this challenge on its own?

Certainly not. Social trends play a critical role. Anything we do as a university can only succeed if society as a whole steps up and regains an interest in technology. Human progress is always the result of new insights, new technologies and innovative solutions. This is something we talk about far too little in Germany. And we are not honest with ourselves. An economy without raw materials and an increasingly knowledge-based society has no future without technology-driven innovation.

That sounds like an appeal to politicians.

It is an appeal to all of us to act urgently. The social climate is an important motivating factor for the decisions young people make about their futures. We need to find the courage to create an environment in our society that rewards experimentation. We need to inspire people to find technical solutions to problems and challenges. This an area where I see considerable potential for Germany and for every individual. I’ll tell you now, anyone who completes a degree in electrical engineering today will not, by anyone’s standards, need to worry about a job or income for the rest of their lives.

Let’s talk about what the university is doing, starting with internationalisation. What are your objectives in this regard?

With our geographical location, structure and 16% of our students coming from outside of Germany, we already have a clear international focus. This is a strong foundation that we want to keep building on.

The French-German cooperation with the University of Lorraine, which offers twelve study programmes, and global partnerships with universities in China, Mexico, India and other locations already set you apart today. You are also the German university with the most French-speaking programmes.

Yes, that is true, but we can do more. Until now, our international English-speaking programmes have focused strongly on master’s students, for example. We are now also looking to attract undergraduates who do not yet speak German to join our bachelor’s degree programmes. The idea is to provide a curriculum that lets students begin their coursework in English, while also becoming proficient in German, so that, by the end of their studies, they can go on to work in a German-speaking environment. Attracting English speakers alone will not be enough to fill our spaces with good students. That’s why we developed a “Fit for Study” programme that prepares applicants from outside of Germany for their studies and officially admits them to the university. We are also currently working with companies to develop a comprehensive strategy aimed at French speakers, because there are many candidates of interest in France and Francophone countries.

Is it fair to say that an internationalisation strategy of this kind requires support from politicians?

Germany is the fourth most popular destination for international students. That is a good starting point. In reality, however, politics and society both have a role to play. Are we ready for the open-mindedness that such a strategy demands? Are we a country that welcomes foreign students? Are we known for our friendliness and willingness to help?

Germany is perhaps more well-known for rigorous demands, red tape and protectionist policies …

And we see many examples of this in our daily lives. We recently had huge problems getting work permits for the Ukrainian university lecturers we are hiring. Our rules are not flexible enough for the real world.

Becoming “more international” was just one of your three areas of focus. How is it going with “more women”?

In Germany, there is still too much gender disparity in course choices. While the figures today are certainly considerably better than they were 20 years ago, we can’t be satisfied with a 20% share of women in STEM subjects when other countries such as Spain or France or countries in Scandinavia or Eastern Europe achieve around 30% or even 40%.

What do you suggest?

I’m afraid I don’t have a silver bullet, I think we need to free technical subjects from any association with soldering, tightening screws and welding. We need to place the reasons for engaging with technology front and centre. “Smart building” not only sounds better, it also says a lot more than “technical building systems”. When we promote international courses of study, we also automatically attract a higher proportion of women. And the number of female applicants for dual study programmes is also always higher.

Doesn’t Germany need to take an even closer look at when and where we lose all these young women?

As the father of three daughters, I can tell you unequivocally: yes. It is during the school years that we are losing the interest of young women. They are not encouraged in maths, physics, chemistry and technology and are instead scared away from these subjects. I’m afraid I don’t have the answer as to how we are going to reverse this trend.

Why do you think expanding dual study programmes will help combat the shortage of skilled workers?

We are seeing a strong interest in dual study programmes. Being integrated in a workplace is particularly attractive to students who wish to start their studies close to home, and it offers the added security of a job. It also provides an exceptional opportunity for social mobility. The challenge in this area, however, is getting companies on board as, besides their involvement and influence, it also requires financial commitment. Most employers have very positive experiences with dual study programmes.

Would you say that these three measures are enough to reverse the shortage of skilled workers in the region?

Unfortunately, not. I believe that Saarland is at the start of a major transformation. It will be an uphill battle, however, as the region has seen the lowest levels of business investment in research and development nationwide. Despite this, we as a university have been able to attract twice the national average in third-party funding. But we cannot manage this transformation with young people alone.

Do you mean that the university should also involve itself in continuing education?

Yes. It is becoming increasingly clear that the things we learn at the age of 20 are no longer enough to take us through our working life, which is likely to last until our late 60s. The development of technology and new trends in digitalisation and electrification are fundamentally changing our working lives and the demands placed on us. Therefore, continuing personal development is becoming increasingly important for us all. In this area, too, we now offer a number of attractive part-time study options that can be completed alongside work that we want to expand.

Do you think that companies and politicians truly appreciate the gravity of the situation?

I fear not, but the imminent shortage of skilled workers is sure to speed up their thinking. We have so much potential, we just need to use it properly.

Thank you for talking to us, President Leonhard.