German universities should focus on improving the quality of their teaching if they want to combat high dropout rates among international students, a study has found.

Academics from the Bavarian State Institute for Higher Education Research and Planning used Germany¡¯s International Student Survey, with almost 2,500 respondents at bachelor¡¯s and master¡¯s level, in order to monitor changes in student satisfaction across three university semesters.

International undergraduates in Germany have a ¡°significantly higher¡± dropout rate than domestic undergraduates, noted Susanne Falk, a senior researcher at the institute who authored the study alongside colleague Theresa Thies. Eighteen per cent of international students drop out in their first three terms of a bachelor¡¯s degree, while only 11 per cent of domestic students do the same.

According to the OECD¡¯s?, Germany hosted 423,000 international students in 2023, making it the most popular non-anglophone destination among OECD countries and the fourth most popular overall behind the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

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Between 2013 and 2023, the OECD reports, the proportion of international students in Germany came close to doubling, rising from 7.1 per cent to 12.7 per cent.

However, ¡°only satisfied students will recommend studying in Germany to others, thus ensuring that Germany remains an attractive host country,¡± Falk said. Previous studies have linked higher student satisfaction with lower??or?, the study authors noted.

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The academics anticipated that the internationality of student cohorts would have a significant impact on overseas student satisfaction: ¡°We would have assumed that international students would feel more comfortable in the programme if they met other international students,¡± said Falk.

They were ¡°surprised¡± to find, however, that a high level of international students had ¡°no effect¡± on student satisfaction,¡± with ¡°perceived quality of teaching¡±, ¡°social integration with fellow students¡± and ¡°teacher support¡± proving more significant factors.

Analysing changes in international student satisfaction over three semesters, Falk noted, allowed the researchers ¡°to tell universities, ¡®You have room for manoeuvre.¡¯¡±

By improving teaching quality ¨C ¡°for example, ensuring that lecturers are well prepared for their courses, explain the content clearly and comprehensively and are open to questions and suggestions from students¡± ¨C universities could boost satisfaction, and thus reduce dropout rates, the study authors suggested.

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¡°This serves as a wake-up call to lecturers: improve the quality of your lectures and student satisfaction will increase,¡± said Falk.

The findings could have significant implications for the German labour market, the academics suggested. ¡°Germany currently has a shortage of skilled workers, particularly in academic STEM professions,¡± Falk said. ¡°Improving student satisfaction could help more international students complete their studies and remain in Germany after graduation.¡±

¡°In the context of demographic change and global competition for well-trained engineers, computer scientists and natural scientists, this would be a huge opportunity for Germany to reduce the labour shortage.¡±

emily.dixon@timeshighereducation.com