(08/27/20) "German Engineering” is an internationally known byword for quality that does not actually need promotion, but niches do exist around the world where there is insufficient awareness of the fact that Germany as a cosmopolitan hub of knowledge has to draw on a broad and internationally oriented pool of talent. Such niches exist in the USA, for example: these are attended to with particular care by the DAAD branch office in the context of higher education and research marketing; they are particularly to be found among African Americans, Latin Americans and women – groups that are still clearly underrepresented in engineering and science.

In connection with these endeavours, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) has been an important partner to the DAAD for some time now: it organised this year’s presentation of German research bodies, funding agents and intermediary organisations at a careers fair during the annual conference, which was conducted virtually due to the coronavirus and attended by more than 2,500 participants. What do I have to do, what funding opportunities are out there, do I have to be fluent in German to study or conduct research in Germany, what added value does a stay abroad give me – and are Germans always punctual? These and similar questions were answered by the advisers in the course of the two five-hour careers fair session: equipped with numerous information brochures for the “Research in Germany” campaign and drawing on personal experience, they were able to answer all the questions competently – but only virtually. Next year we would like to see another live event which we will definitely be glad to take part in as part of our international research marketing.