Lessons from the German Fulbright

ExperienceHow Butler Can Benefit from

Involvement in International Education

German-American Fulbright Programs

German-American Fulbright Commission established in 1952 – celebrated its 60th anniversary

The largest of 52 bilateral programs with 700 German & American participants in 30 programs annually

The International Education Administrators Seminar included 20 participants from around the USA with a variety of institutions and diversity of professional roles

To apply for Fulbright programs see www.iie.org.cies

Higher Education in Germany

2-track system for high school graduates “Arbitur” exam for universities Technical training for others

3-tiered system of universities & technical schools Traditional Research Universities Applied Sciences Universities Vocational -Technical Institutes

Degree Structure Bachelor degree = 3 years Master degree = 2 years Doctoral (PhD) = 3-5 years

Lessons on Higher Ed Structure

American community colleges are like bridges between the technical-cooperative education training and the applied sciences universities in Germany

Germans recognizes the value of workforce training more than Americans; every person is trained for their job in Germany from retail to auto tech to teacher to computer science to academic

Germany has relatively few private universities compared to the USA

Leadership of University & Faculty

Germans emphasize “self-administration” – a democratic, bottom-up process for selecting leaders

University Leadership is “elected” from the faculty by faculty, staff and students – Faculty Council elects Dean, Executive Committee elects Chancellor, for example

Deans, Vice-Presidents & Chancellors serve a 4-year term and then stand for reelection and return to the faculty when finished

Faculty Workload

Faculty in Applied Science universities must have 5 years experience working in industry or private sector and a doctorate in their teaching field

Teaching load is 18 hours per week; research and publication are not expected, except in Traditional Research universities

Faculty are “civil servants” with tenure after two years and are paid by the state; 80% or more are full-time, few are adjuncts who generally teach one class

Lessons on Leadership & Faculty

Contrast between German “self-administration” and American “professional administration” where administrators may originate from the faculty but tend to become career administrators with much different hiring process

American administrative style is more “top-down”(hierarchical) in contrast to German “bottom-up” (democratic) approach

American institutions increasingly employ part-time adjuncts rather than full-time faculty; ratios are almost reversed with 20% full-time/tenured in the US, compared 80% in Germany

Students, Student Services & Student Life

Nearly all German students are 18-26 years old, very few non-traditional students (only 5% have children)

Among Germans, 46% go to universities and 47% go to vocational-technical institutes; few do not attend post-secondary schools

German students pay no tuition, only nominal fees ($500 per year); students receive housing and transit subsidies from the state ($600 per month for up to 10 semesters)

German students focus entirely on their major subject; no general education; most get some work experience in 3rd year

Student Services

German institutions provide fewer student services and spend 40% less per student than American institutions

German culture sees 18 year olds as “adults” and encourages them to be independent

Student Services are provided through a Nat’l Assoc. of Student Affairs; 2/3 of funding comes from revenues for dining and residential halls, 1/3 from student fees & state

Students Services are understaffed and recognized as an area that needs further development in Germany

Student Life

Student Life in Germany revolves around academics and student government; with a few other student clubs

There are no university sports programs

There are no college health services due to universal health care

Most students get job training through cooperative ed

International students are more than 10 percent at most universities in Germany (compared to 3.5% in USA)

Lessons on Students, Student Service & Student Life

In Germany higher education is a “common good” which is fully funded by the state with little cost to the student, whereas in the USA higher education is more of an “individual good” which is increasingly funded by the student through tuition with declining contributions by the state.

German students focus on academics and complete bachelor degrees in 3 years compared to American students who average 6 years for bachelor degrees, but must take general education reqs and have a broader student life experience

American colleges provide many more student services, but Germany students get more work experience

How Butler can Benefit from Involvement with International

Education

Butler has a well-established international student program, but international enrollment is declining

Butler Faculty and Student Services staff show strong support for the International Program in a Fall survey

Butler faculty, staff and international students have very positive experiences interacting with each other

Faculty, staff & international students support increased funding for the International Program

Faculty & Staff Perceptionsof Benefits of International Students

International Student Perceptionson their Experiences at Butler

Faculty & Staff Perceptions of Interactions with International

Students

Faculty & Staff Perceptions on Funding

for International Student Program

International Student Perceptionson Areas for Improvements

Benefits of International EducationFinal Proposals

Recognize the revenue generated by the international student program and commit a portion to reinvestment

Invest in recruiting more international students

Establish a scholarship program for international students that rewards academic excellence

Expand efforts to develop study abroad opportunities for Butler students and faculty

Support professional development for international education

Emphasize “internationalization” across the college

Fulbright Seminar tours Berlin

The Berlin Wall

Brandenburg Gate

The Reichstag

Randy with Reiner RohrFulbright Chief of American Programs

Former Auto Plantnow a Campus of HTW in Berlin

Visit to HTW Campusoverlooking Spree River

Humboldt University in Berlin

The Pergamom Museum in Berlin

Europa University Viadrinain Frankfurt on Oder

Fisherman on the Oder River

Student Union at Collegia Polonicumacross the Oder in Poland

Oktoberfest in Berlin

German Chancellor Angela Merkelnewly re-elected

Design Students at DarmstadtApplied Sciences University

Inn at Strasbourg, France

Notre Dame Cathedralin Strasbourg

Berlin Hauptbahnhof

Castle enroute to Prague

Wenceslas Square in Prague

Powder Tower in Prague

Prague Castle

UFO Bridge in Bratislava

Bratislava Castle

Comenius University in Bratislava

Inside the Blue Church in Bratislava

The Great Synagogue in Pest

Synagogue Ceiling

The Hungarian Parliament

On the Danube in Budapest

Self-Reflections on the Train to Berlin

Train Station in Bratislava