Culture and education - priority areas of German foreign policy
Cultural and education policy is a cornerstone of German foreign policy, next to political and economic relations. It reaches people in other countries, representing Germany in many ways. Culture and education are instruments that generate the trust of the world in Germany. The policy lays a solid foundation for stable international relations.
In times of globalization, the importance of specific cultural relations and educational policy grows. The German parliament, the Bundestag, is providing approximately 0.5 percent of the federal budget for this. The German Government regularly reports to parliament on the approaches taken, concepts and key aspects of its cultural relations and educational policy. The German Cabinet on January, 12, 2011 accepted the report on the period from July 2009 to November 2010.
The budget for foreign cultural and education policy in 2009 amounted to a total of 1.436 million Euro or 0.47 percent of the overall federal budget. For the year 2010, the sum increased to 1.513 million Euro.
German language as access to a nation and its culture
An important goal is the promotion of the German language. It serves to strengthen Germany's position as a location for economic acitivity, research and study. Currently, there are up to 15 million learners of German worldwide. To increase this number, the campaign "German - language of ideas" was launched in 2010. The Goethe Institut, the DAAD and the German schools abroad are participating in the campaign.
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(© www.goethe.de)
The Goethe Institut is Germany's largest cultural organisation abroad. It is represented in more than 140 locations in 92 countries. The Goethe Instituts convey a modern image of Germany. Apart from language courses, this is done through a wide variety of cultural events. In 2009 for example, the Goethe Instituts contributed worldwide to the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the accompanying peaceful changes in Europe.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) links German research institutions with foreign universities and promotes the German language at the interface with Germany as a study location: DAAD lecturers teach German language, literature, culture and other subjects with a German connection at universities abroad. Furthermore, the DAAD arranges and supports scholarships for study and research at German universities as well as offers language courses for students about to embark on studies in Germany.
Research is today impossible without cross-border exchanges. The promotion of global cooperation in science and research strengthens Germany's reputation as a business and knowledge location.
German schools abroad
German schools abroad are of central importance for cultural relations and educational policy. They guarantee schooling options for German children abroad and promote the teaching of German in foreign schools. At the same time, they are places, where events and dialogue with the society and culture of the host countries happen.
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Having fun at the Goethe Instittut
(© GIC Pretoria)
One hundred forty German schools abroad teach nearly 80,000 pupils, in many cases through graduation. More than 275,000 pupils will graduate at 870 language schools offering the German language certificates (DSD). Other schools, where the teaching of German has been reinforced, joined the partner school network of the initiative "Schools: Partners for the Future" (PASCH). By 2010,a total of 1,500 schools were included in the PASCH network.
New initiatives
German cultural organizations and other partners abroad have received additional support since 2009 through young volunteers. In cooperation with the German UNESCO Commission, the German Foreign Office seeks to foster young people’s intercultural skills and encourage a cosmopolitan outlook on life through its volunteer service “Kulturweit "(Bridging Cultures). A deep interst and involvement through cultural encounters bring benefits to both the young involved and to the many different initiatives, undertakten in the host country.
Sport connects people: with the initiative "Sport and Foreign Oolicy” the Foreign Office contributes to the establishment and development of grass roots sport arround the world. By helping people to help themselves, the program also contributes to promoting development of civil society structures on the ground.
Civil society is also strengthened via the scholarship programs, which were targeted under the research and academic relations initiative at the young and gifted abroad. In particular, scholars from conflict countries, such as Iraq or Afghanistan gain access to training and knowledge that are urgently needed at home.
source: Regierungonline
