topic Ministry

International Cooperation in Education and Research

Europe without borders and the globalization of markets are characteristics of growing internationalization. International experience combined with tolerance and openness for other cultures are considered to be key competences of the future. Education enables people to make use of the opportunities of open borders and worldwide communication. Learning and research around the globe should be open to all people. The BMBF is creating the possibilities by means of international cooperation.

Science thrives on exchanges across all borders. However, international collaboration in science is possible only on the basis of internationally agreed cooperation. Implementing these collaborations often depends on the financing of exchange programmes from state funds.

International exchanges are very much alive in the German education system, too. They range from programmes for exchanges of pupils at schools to programmes for exchanges in academic education. Young people get to know new cultures and languages in exchange programmes. This is the basis for skills that are necessary in a world that is growing together.

Challenges

European integration and the process of globalization are a particular challenge for education, science, research and technology:

• The opportunities of open borders and worldwide communication can only be used by citizens if they have learned to actively deal with the new possibilities.
• In science, research and development, the German players must understand Europe as their new, day-to-day arena and must cooperate and compete with the best partners worldwide.
• Education, higher education and continuing education must contribute to a culture of openness to the world and internationality in Germany if our country is to be an attractive and thriving place for innovations in all fields of industry and society.

All players in education, science and industry, in politics and practice are called upon to develop their strategy for active partnerships in Europe and with the world. Quality and orientation to the future must be combined with internationality.

The strategy paper Bildung und Forschung weltoffen - Innovation durch Internationalität takes stock and

• documents the most important initiatives which the BMBF has taken together with many partners in order to strengthen internationality and a European orientation in education and research,
• formulates objectives which politics and practice must focus on to strengthen the internationalization of education and research, and
• states priority tasks for the future.

Internationality and a European orientation can only be realized in close cooperation between all decision-makers and via a broad range of initiatives in politics and practice. The BMBF therefore continues to depend on good cooperation with numerous partners at national and Länder level, in science and industry as well as in numerous states, institutions and organizations all over the world.

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  topic Education

  UN Decade "Education for Sustainable Development"

  The United Nations have declared the years 2005 to 2014 the world decade on "Education for Sustainable Development". The aim of the Decade is to anchor the ideal of sustainable development in all areas of education. The Decade wants to provide education opportunities to all people, enabling them to acquire knowledge and values and learn about behaviour and lifestyles which are needed to ensure a liveable future and develop a future-oriented society.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/3840.php)
   
  
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  topic Ministry

  Israel

  Scientific cooperation between Germany and Israel paved the way for diplomatic relations between the two countries. Today, there is an extensive network of joint bilateral activities in addition to the joint work being carried out under the EU's Research Programmes, in which Israel has been participating since 1996. Israel invests a lot of money in its research system. As a result of these efforts – and of the waves of immigration of Russian scientists in the 90s – Israel has the world's highest density of scientists and engineers per capita.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/1531.php)
   
  
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  topic Education

  Internationalization of Higher Education

  The Federal Government is supporting German institutions of higher education in their efforts to assert themselves in growing international competition. Higher education marketing is to attract students, young scientists and researchers worldwide to studies and research at German institutions of higher education. The institutions of higher education are moving towards a European Higher Education Area.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/908.php)
   
  
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  topic Research

  EU Research Framework Programme

  The EU Research Framework Programme (RFP) is the largest funding programme for research projects in the world. The BMBF supports national efforts to ensure excellent research at European level. Various advisory services are offered to German applicants, eg by the Federal Government's National Contact Points for the Research Framework Programme (NCPs).
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/rp7-auftakt.php)
   
  
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  topic Education

  Lifelong Learning Programme: the new European Education Programme

  The European programme in the field of lifelong learning brings the SOCRATES and LEONARDO DA VINCI programmes together under a single roof. Between 2007 and 2013 a budget of almost 7 billion euro will be available for exchanges of teachers and learners of all ages as well as for cooperation between education institutions.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/919.php)
   
  
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  topic Ministry

  Research in Germany Online

  The revised and extended English language internet portal www.research-in-germany.de goes online on 4 September 2008. The portal, an initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), provides foreign researchers and scientists with a wealth of easily accessible information about research opportunities in Germany. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has editorial responsibility for the portal.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/6443.php)
   
  
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  topic Ministry

  Bi- and multilateral cooperation in education and research

  The Federal Ministry of Education and Research cooperates with individual states on many interdisciplinary projects. Direct cooperation makes it possible to devise projects which are tailored to the special situation in each country and to its relations with Germany.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/707.php)
   
  
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  topic Ministry

  Cooperation with Western, Northern and Southern Europe

  Cooperation with other European countries is a central issue for Germany and an especially strong factor in the implementation of the BMBF's funding programmes. Bilateral cooperation predominantly takes place within a multilateral framework and is geared towards actively shaping the European Research Area (ERA). Scientific cooperation in the ERA is generally carried out through direct and unrestricted contact between researchers and research institutions, without the need for government-funded measures to establish these contacts.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/1574.php)
   
  
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  topic Ministry

  Cooperation with Central, Eastern and South East Europe

  Cooperation with Central, Eastern and South East European countries is aimed towards European integration. This means that the objectives and framework conditions of bilateral cooperation in education and research are also changing. Whereas in the past attention focused on supporting the integration of the accession countries in the EU, it is now a matter of working together to shape the European Education and Research Area. Furthermore, the respective capabilities are to be linked up in research and development projects which are of mutual interest.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/1572.php)
   
  
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  topic Ministry

  Cooperation with the USA and Canada

  The USA is Germany's most important scientific and technological cooperation partner among all industrialized countries. Over 50 bilateral cooperation agreements have been concluded. They form the basis of the extensive network of German-American research projects. The key areas of cooperation are space flight (through the ISS) and environmental technologies. There are also successful partnerships in the area of medicine. Germany's cooperation with Canada focuses on biotechnology and nanotechnology. In future, the subject of sustainability will be integrated more closely into the collaboration.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/1560.php)