Germany’s academic exchange agency, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), is recalibrating its India strategy—moving beyond student mobility towards long-term institutional partnerships and collaborative research, senior officials said, according to a report by The PIE News.
The shift comes at a time when more than 60,000 Indian students are enrolled in German universities, making them the largest international student cohort in the country.
Shift Towards Strategic Institutional Collaboration
“India has emerged as one of the most important and fastest-growing markets for DAAD in recent years,” said Arthur Rapp, director of DAAD’s regional office in New Delhi.
“This growth is not only reflected in increasing numbers, but also in the changing aspirations and profiles of Indian students, who are now more informed, globally oriented, and focused on quality education and research opportunities.”
While Germany remains a preferred destination due to affordability and strong research infrastructure, DAAD is now expanding its focus beyond facilitating student pathways.
The agency—an umbrella body of German universities and student organisations—is increasingly prioritising structured, long-term collaboration between institutions in India and Germany. This approach aligns with the Indo-German Comprehensive Roadmap on Higher Education, launched during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to India, aimed at boosting academic partnerships, exchanges, and joint research initiatives.
“One of the major shifts is towards long-term cooperation, making Indo-German collaboration more strategic, inclusive, and impact-driven than ever before, alongside more structured partnerships between institutions rather than only supporting individual scholarships,” said Shikha Sinha, senior advisor for international cooperation and internationalisation at DAAD India.
“Programs like SPARC-GIANT bring together Indian and German universities in joint research projects in priority areas such as sustainability, healthcare, industry 4.0, and semiconductors.”
Expanding Research Networks and Addressing Global Challenges
Established in India in 1960, DAAD has significantly scaled up its engagement in recent years. It currently supports around 80 of more than 500 India–Germany academic collaborations and facilitates dialogue through platforms such as the International Higher Education Dialogue (iHED).
Officials emphasised that deeper research collaboration is critical in addressing global challenges.
“Whether it is environmental issues, food security or the energy transition, these are global challenges that cannot be solved by any one country, requiring collaboration between scientists worldwide, with Germany’s globally renowned research landscape complementing India’s scale, dynamism and innovation,” Rapp said.
“Germany and India bring different strengths and expertise, which makes it all the more important to work together.”
Push for Balanced Mobility and Wider Participation
Despite rising Indian student numbers, DAAD is now aiming to rebalance academic mobility between the two countries.
“While Indo-German academic cooperation has grown significantly, there are still a few key challenges to address. One is ensuring balanced mobility – while more Indian students are going to Germany, we would like to see more German students choosing India as a study destination,” Sinha said.
“Another challenge is broadening participation beyond top-tier institutions by engaging more state universities and institutions from underrepresented regions.”
Highlighting the scale of India’s higher education ecosystem, Rapp added: “One challenge is the scale of the landscape in India – there are so many universities and millions of students, and while we do our best to connect people and raise awareness, there is always more that can be done.”
“Even if you increase the budget – double or triple it – it would still not be enough, and on issues like visa policies and broader cooperation, there is clear willingness from both countries to work together and even more closely in the future.”
No Immediate Plans for German Campuses in India
DAAD officials clarified that German universities are not currently prioritising the establishment of branch campuses in India, citing structural and financial differences.
“We published recommendations looking at both the German and Indian systems, outlining where the challenges are and how institutions can approach collaboration step by step,” Sinha said.
“German universities are not driven by profit, and most do not charge tuition fees, so the priority remains on cooperation rather than setting up campuses.”
Rapp echoed this view, noting the complexity of international expansion.
“German universities operate on a different model, with most funding coming from the state, so there isn’t the same financial drive to expand abroad. Expanding into a new country also comes with challenges. You can’t simply take a German curriculum and place it elsewhere; it needs to be adapted,” he said.
“Since German public universities are not driven by profit, the question is where the resources would come from, which is why collaboration is often the more effective route. A joint university could happen, but it would require a high-level decision and funding.”
Students Key to Germany’s Workforce, Mobility Seen as Two-Way
With an ageing population and increasing demand for skilled workers, Germany continues to view international students—particularly Indians—as vital to its future workforce.
At the same time, DAAD officials stressed that academic mobility is no longer a one-way movement.
“You can study in English in Germany, but it is important to learn at least some basic German, especially if you are looking at long-term opportunities,” Rapp said.
“We also want people to come back to India and that’s good for Germany because it creates stronger links.”
He added: “When we talk about migration, it’s not a one-way street – people study, gain knowledge and experience, and then return or move across markets, and that’s how the system works.”
Growing Numbers, Evolving Priorities
With Indian students forming the largest international group in Germany, the India–Germany higher education partnership is entering a new phase—marked not just by mobility, but by deeper, long-term academic and research integration.
The evolving strategy signals a shift from volume to value, as both countries seek to leverage education partnerships to address global challenges and strengthen bilateral ties.
