According to the DAAD, current plans by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) would see nearly all DAAD-administered university cooperation programs funded through the ministry phased out by 2031, with the exception of one alumni program.
In addition, programs previously funded through special BMZ initiatives are also set to come to an end. Last year, the DAAD provided around €25 million in funding for the affected programs.
The move would affect partnerships involving universities across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, including Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) partnerships and initiatives supporting collaboration between universities and industry.
The DAAD said around 60 German universities could ultimately be affected by the cuts by 2031, while some projects are already unable to be re-tendered this year.
“These cuts threaten a key pillar of German foreign science policy and development cooperation: the structured and demonstrably highly successful engagement of our higher education institutions in promoting German interests through cooperation with partners in the Global South,” said DAAD president Joybrato Mukherjee.
“Those who scale back these university partnerships may save money in the short term, but at the same time they weaken Germany’s international capacity to act in science, business and the recruitment of skilled workers,” he continued.
Mukherjee also warned that countries such as China and potentially Russia could fill gaps left by reduced German engagement in parts of the Global South, with “significant consequences” for Germany’s international influence.
To date, the DAAD has used BMZ funding to support projects involving German universities and partner institutions across the Global South, focusing on areas such as energy supply, water management, health, digitalisation and entrepreneurship.
The collaborations have also supported the development of practice-oriented degree programs, joint research initiatives, workforce training and improvements to the management of universities and research institutions.
Over the past five years, DAAD-supported higher education programs funded through BMZ have reached almost 120,000 people across nearly 60 countries, involving around 450 partner universities and institutions worldwide.
“Long-term partnerships with institutions across the Global South have become strategically important far beyond traditional development cooperation,” Akos Kiraly, deputy director at SRH Higher Education told The PIE News.
“They now play a central role in internationalisation, research collaboration, talent development and Germany’s global academic presence.”
Kiraly added that the issue also reflected wider global competition around academic influence and talent ecosystems. “Germany is competing internationally not only for students, but also for researchers, innovators and long-term institutional influence,” he said.
On DAAD’s warning that countries such as China could fill gaps left by reduced German engagement, Kiraly said the concerns were realistic given shifting global education dynamics.
“If Germany or Europe reduce their long-term presence, other actors will naturally become more influential in shaping academic ecosystems, institutional partnerships and future talent networks,” he said.
Those who lose access to these scientific networks also lose vital access to innovation, international partners and future markets
Joybrato Mukherjee, DAAD
The warning also comes weeks after senior DAAD officials told The PIE that Germany was increasingly shifting its India strategy beyond student mobility toward deeper institutional partnerships focused on research, innovation and collaboration.
Officials had highlighted collaborations in areas such as sustainability, healthcare, semiconductors and Industry 4.0, while also emphasising the role of international partnerships in supporting Germany’s skilled workforce and innovation ecosystem.
“Many global challenges can only be tackled in close cooperation with partners in the Global South,” Mukherjee stated.
“University cooperation creates long-term, international networks between universities, the scientific community, business and politics. Those who lose access to these scientific networks also lose vital access to innovation, international partners and future markets.”
Kiraly suggested the debate could also push the sector to rethink how international academic partnerships are financed in the future, particularly as long-term public funding comes under pressure.
“Public funding will remain essential, particularly for long-term capacity-building initiatives, but there may also be greater scope for complementary private-sector involvement, philanthropic partnerships and co-funded international models involving universities, industry and regional stakeholders,” he said.
“Especially in areas linked to innovation, applied research, employability and skills development, hybrid funding approaches could become increasingly relevant.”
