Article
Germany’s education responses to the influx of Ukrainian students
Situation
Context
The German Academic Exchange Service () provides information on a special page about support offers for Ukrainian students and scientists.
Preschool and Basic Education
Access to compulsory schooling for refugee children is regulated differently in each federal state. Federal States (Länder) of Germany have set up a joint task force to welcome refugee children into schools and ensure uncomplicated access to schooling. Most of the States are establishing additional classes which will be known as welcome classes, preparatory classes, intensive classes or German language classes.
Vocational Education and Higher Education
Competent authorities for foreigners will provide information about obtaining a residence permit for the purpose of study/vocational training. The same authority is responsible for a possible extension of a residence permit. This applies in particular to Ukrainian guest students who are unable to return to their home country.
Ukraine has been a member of the Bologna Process since 2005. As such, course credits earned in Ukraine are recognized in Germany.
Institutions including the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf (HZDR) provide detailed information and offers for Ukrainian students and migrants seeking employment and an applicant portal for researchers from Ukraine.
In addition, the Ministry of Education offers employment and/or training for Ukrainian teachers. It is providing teaching resources on the conflict and also encourages peer-to-peer sharing of best practices among teachers and schools. The EU Equal Treatment Office provides advice on teaching in German, English, Polish, Hungarian and Romanian.
The German Academic Exchange Service has offers of assistance for researchers from Ukraine. The National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI), the largest network of research institutions in Germany, has also compiled several links, contacts and services useful for scientists from Ukraine.
The EU issued operational guidelines for the implementation of Council implementing Decision 2022/382, establishing the existence of a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2001/55/EC, and having the effect of introducing temporary protection (2022/C 126 I/01). As such, EU Member States shall grant access to their education system to persons under 18 years old enjoying the temporary protection status under the.
Bibliography
Government sources:
"Der Krieg in der Ukraine und seine Auswirkungen." Bundesministerium Für Bildung Und Forschung - BMBF. Accessed March 21, 2022. .
"Informationen Für Geflüchtete Aus Der Ukraine." Bundesministerium Für Bildung Und Forschung - BMBF. Accessed April 5, 2022. .
"School, Higher Education, Vocational Training: Information for Refugees from Ukraine." Federal Ministry of Education and Research - BMBF. Accessed April 5, 2022.
"Informationen Für Geflüchtete Aus Der Ukraine." Bundesministerium Für Bildung Und Forschung - BMBF. Accessed March 21, 2022.
Other sources:
"Hilfsangebote." DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). Accessed March 22, 2022.
"Ukrainian Children Find a Welcoming Classroom in Berlin." ABC News. Last modified March 22, 2022.
“Nearly 239,000 refugees from Ukraine in Germany so far”. Reuters. Last updated March 23, 2022.
