The Power Engineering Society (Energietechnische Gesellschaft, ETG) within the VDE has launched the task force “International Academic Talent in the Energy Sector” to facilitate access to German universities and, subsequently, careers for non-European talent. Behind the initiative is a network of university representatives and professionals working in the energy sector. “Non-European talent should find its way into an electrical engineering degree program in Germany through the ETG within the VDE as a gateway,” explains Britta Buchholz, Chair of the ETG.
She understands both the importance of international professionals for the German labor market and the challenges faced by foreign students in Germany. Anyone wishing to study in Germany must, among other requirements, provide proof of funding for one year amounting to €11,904. Buchholz and the ETG are already familiar with these requirements through the WiSE Initiative – the second approach, alongside the task force, through which the ETG is actively supporting international academic talent.
The WiSE Initiative was established by the energy industry to attract international female professionals to the German energy sector. Currently, 40 scholarship holders with Afghan citizenship are being supported. “We see this step as a first wave from which we will gain a great deal of experience,” says Buchholz. The scholarship recipients are currently completing paid preparatory internships at companies and research institutions in the energy and technology sectors, with the goal of beginning regular degree programs in the winter semester of 2026/27. This is where the connection to the ETG’s new task force lies: building on the experiences of these young Afghan women, it aims to create academic education and qualification pathways and establish a mentoring program that continuously supports prospective students. The promise is to provide insight into real fields of work and career paths so that young experts can develop a long-term perspective in Germany. Universities themselves also benefit. “The network provides universities with a platform to present themselves in non-European regions and attract students,” explains Buchholz.
The task force held its kick-off meeting in April but continues to seek interested participants who would like to join the network. The focus is on experts from energy-sector companies who can contribute practical experience. Buchholz advocates a joint effort to address the major skills shortage in Germany’s energy industry: “The central element of the future energy system is electricity. There is an incredible amount of work to be done – so we need many engineers who want to help shape it.”
Those interested in joining the task force can obtain the necessary information from ETG Program Manager Chrissy Lind:
