Skilled labour for the region

Skilled labour is scarce in the region, and the defect threatens to worsen in the coming years. Fulda University of Applied Sciences trains many of the urgently needed young professionals. However, they often do not find a match with the enterprises. Last Friday, there was therefore sufficient opportunity for enterprises and students to get to know each other, engage in dialogue, arrange internships and find out about potential employers and employees.

Region Fulda GmbH and the Department of Food Technology at Fulda University of Applied Sciences hosted the third networking event, which focussed primarily on international students. Although they are highly qualified and represent great potential for the region, it is often difficult for them to enter the German labour market.

The key: direct encounters

"We have found that direct encounters are the best way to overcome hurdles," says Pia Groß from Region Fulda GmbH, who organised the course together with professors Dr Uta Anschütz and Dr Nicole-Barbara Buschle.

University President Professor Dr Karim Khakzar opened the course by emphasising that the university is setting the course for more skilled workers. "We are internationalising the university step by step," he said. The motto of the course, "Educated without borders - needed regionally", therefore also characterises the university as a whole.

Christoph Burkard, Managing Director of Region Fulda GmbH, also left no doubt that the university is an important location factor and emphasised that healthy food is an essential part of regional identity. Speaking in English and German as well as in Rhöner Platt and with a good dose of humour, he encouraged international graduates to stay in the region.

Great potential for the food industry

The dean of studies, Professor Dr Stephen Knobloch, demonstrated to the audience just how much potential there is for young international talent in the field of food technology. "The proportion of international students in the Department of Food Technology is significantly higher than average," he stated. The department's international programs initially counted 200 international prospective students when they were launched in 2023, but this year the number has already risen to 900. DAAD award winner Maria Chiara Menapace encouraged her fellow international students to get involved in the region with lots of personal tips and insights into her experiences.

Najim Azahaf from the Bertelsmann Foundation provided good arguments in favour of more international skilled workers. The expert on migration, who joined us online, spoke of a win-win-win situation. By this he meant that international skilled workers, their home countries and Germany as a host country could benefit equally if international skilled workers were to enter the German labour market. Germany would benefit from competences, new perspectives and innovative ideas as well as taxes. The migrants could grow personally and professionally, and the home countries would benefit from financial and social transfers.

WIN network: support for SMEs

Region Fulda GmbH has long since moulded these approaches into a project. Julian Bolz from Region Fulda GmbH presented the WIN network, which is supported by funds from the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. It aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Fulda region in the development and implementation of mentoring processes so that they too can benefit from international skilled workers in the future.

Following the official part of the course, 20 stands invited visitors to exchange ideas in person. Exhibitors and students gave a positive summary of the event. "Many of the international students thanked us for the opportunity to network, and we received re-enrolment from many participants that they want to come back next year," says Professor Buschle. "The inspiring discussions in a relaxed atmosphere obviously create added value for all sides and have brought both the enterprises and students as well as the exhibitors closer together."

Contact: 
Science Communication administrative unit: antje.mohr@verw.hs-fulda.de, 0661 9640 1050, mobile: 0175 77 14 773