Focus Areas and Trends
Explore current themes and activities shaping Indo-German academic cooperation, from internationalisation strategies to employability and innovation.
DAAD iHED Workshop in Kashmir 2025
The DAAD iHED Workshop held on 10–11 April 2025 at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) focused on strengthening cooperation management in the context of internationalisation at Indian higher education institutions.
Launch of India Position Paper
DAAD Position Paper Launch during 65 Years of DAAD in India: During the celebration of 65 years of DAAD in India, the DAAD Regional Office New Delhi launched a DAAD Position Paper on India, outlining key areas of potential and strategic relevance for German universities in their engagement with India.
How to initiate a cooperation
Establishing a successful international partnership begins with a clear vision, mutual interests, and the right academic counterpart. The steps below outline how Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) can initiate and develop sustainable cooperation with German universities.
Step 1: Define the Cooperation Objective
To initiate a successful partnership, the international HEI should clearly outline the cooperation objective, including:
- Fields of Expertise: Align with shared academic or research interests
- Academic Level: Specify whether the focus is on teaching or research .
- Goals: Clarify the purpose and goal, e.g. increasing German student/researcher exchanges, curriculum development, complementing study programs through German HEI, or collaborative research projects.
- Basis of Contact: Leverage existing institutional connections or collaborations, alumni ties, or past fellowships of academic staff.
- Duration: Determine the cooperation timeline.
Tailoring objectives to respective German HEI increases the likelihood of a meaningful and and mutually beneficial partnership.
Step 2: Identifying Potential Partners
Finding the right partner is crucial. Consider these approaches:
Scientific Journals: Identify German researchers publishing in your field.
- Former Germany Alumni: Connect with scholarship recipients (DAAD Alumni, AvH Alumni, Max Planck Alumni etc.) or graduates of German HEIs at your institution for direct academic contacts.
- Online Resources: Consult databases
Higher Education Compass: Information on German HEIs, study/research options, and international cooperation.
German Research Institutions (GERiT): Directory of over 23,000 German research institutions.
Research in Germany: Information on the German research system and funding opportunities.
Step 3: Contacting German Universities
- Identify the relevant contact, such as the head of the International Office of the German HEI, researchers or
- Draft a concise email (in English or German) introducing your institution and outlining the cooperation objective.
- Maintain communication and refine priorities, guidelines, and other cooperation details.
The DAAD publication “Guidelines for Student Exchange, Dual/Double & Joint Degree Programmes“ offers an overview of the higher education systems in India and Germany. It provides practical insights into HEI types, degree structures, internationalization processes, and approval procedures for international cooperation, serving as a comprehensive guide for developing academic partnerships.
Facts and Figures
Universities and research institutions from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka are actively partnering with German counterparts through various joint programmes, exchanges, and research projects. These collaborations foster innovation, mutual learning, and long-term academic ties.
Cooperation projects between South Asia and Germany are also supported through various DAAD funding programmes. These programmes are typically announced annually and invite applications for joint academic and research initiatives between institutions in both regions.
A New Passage to India (2009-2024)
Launched in 2009 by the DAAD and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the programme A New Passage to India (ANPtI) has strengthened Indo-German academic collaboration for 15 years. With a total German investment of €35 million, it has supported numerous initiatives. Alone between 2019 and 2024 a number of 35 cooperation projects were funded. Key components of ANPtI included:
- Indo-German Partnerships in Higher Education (IGP), co-funded by the Indian government
- German-Indian Higher Education Cooperation Projects (DIHSK)
- Working Internships in Science and Engineering (WISE)
- Indo-German Centre for Sustainability (IGCS) at IIT Madras
Discover the highlights of the funded projects under “A New Passage to India” scheme in the A New Passage To India Brochure.
“Germany is a country that puts special emphasis on sustainable development. IGCS is an Indo-German Knowledge Hub providing a platform for conducting interdisciplinary research. With a vast network of researchers IGCS aims to provide solutions for global challenges. It also conducts Summer and Winter Schools in both countries to share knowledge and educate students about sustainability topics.”Prof.Dr S.A. Sanasiraj, Indian Area Coordinator, IGCS, India
Good Practices
This poster collection showcases successful DAAD-funded cooperation projects between German and Indian higher education and research institutions. These initiatives exemplify impactful collaboration between German and Indian higher education and research institutions, supported by the DAAD—often in partnership with Indian bodies like the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Department of Science and Technology DST) and the Council for Science and Industrial Research (CSIR). These projects span 1 to 4-year and demonstrate the impact of academic collaboration in advancing shared .
Take a look at the posters of successful cooperation projects!
- A New Passage to India (Phase I): Delhi University / University of Wuppertal
- A New Passage to India (Phase II): Delhi University / University of Wuppertal
- A New Passage to India: Shaping Global Perspectives: Symbiosis International University / Berlin School of Economics and Law
- Applied Research for Sustainable Energy in Buildings: MNIT Jaipur / OTH Amberg-Weiden
- Chemical Innovations for a Sustainable Future: NIT Rourkela / University of Regensburg
- Chemical Innovations for a Sustainable Future (Extended Collaboration): NIT Rourkela / University of Regensburg
- Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Infrastructure and Adaptation Strategies: IIT Madras (Poster)
- Collaborative Indo-German Project on Natural Hazard Prediction (Co-PrePARE): IIT Roorkee / University of Potsdam (Poster)
- Combating Environmental Pollution through Global Education (COMPOLL): IIT Delhi / TU Dresden (Poster)
- Decoding Attention from Gaze: Benchmarking Data and AI Models: IIT Kharagpur / Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (Poster)
- Developing Institutionalized Cooperation in Education and Research (The IDEaL Platform): Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune / IISc Bangalore / University of Cologne (Poster)
- Electronic Structure Engineering of Transition Metal Nitrides: NIT Trichy / TU Darmstadt (Poster)
- Exploration: An Indo-German Research Partnership: IIT Bombay / TU München (Poster)
- Exploring Cultures of Learning in India and Germany: IIT-BHU / University of Heidelberg (Poster)
- Experimental Architecture and Material Culture (EAMC): IIT Roorkee / RWTH Aachen (Poster)
- Hardware-aware Algorithms in Scientific Computing: IISc Bangalore / University of Heidelberg (Poster)
- Hierarchical Nanomotor-Loaded Microcarriers for Enhanced Imaging and Therapy: IISc Bangalore / TUD Dresden / IFW Leibniz Dresden (Poster)
- IIT Indore – LU Hannover Research Partnership: IIT Indore / LU Hannover (Poster)
- IIT Madras – University of Passau: A Journey Through Decades: IIT Madras (Poster)
- Indo-German Centre for Sustainability: IIT Madras / RWTH Aachen (Poster)
- Indo-German Partnership in Climate and Water Research (IGCaWR): IIT Madras / FU Berlin (Poster)
- Innovations in Soundproofing Solutions for Sustainable Comfort: Jadavpur University / NIT Silchar / DLR Braunschweig (Poster)
- Innovative Concepts for Traffic and Vehicle Safety: Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science, Chennai / Trier University of Applied Sciences (Poster)
- Iron Supply in Pregnancy: Building Bridges for Research and Education: Christian Medical College, Vellore / University of Heidelberg (Poster)
- Law and Transformations: India-Germany Dialogues: NLSIU / HU Berlin (Poster)
- MANGO: Affordable Open-Source Needle Guidance Technology: IIT-BHU / TU Darmstadt (Poster)
- Modeling the Dynamics of Self-Assembled Networks in Ag-HBN Systems: IISc Bangalore / TU Dresden (Poster)
- NAMASTE+ Göttingen: Strengthening India-Germany Higher Education Cooperation: IISER Pune / University of Göttingen (Poster)
- Situated Architectural Knowledge: IIT Roorkee / RWTH Aachen (Poster)
- Sustainable Networks for the Future (DE/IN CeMIS): O.P. Jindal Global University / University of Göttingen (Poster)
- Verkehr-SuTra: Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Transportation: IIT Kharagpur / TU München (Poster)
“My 6 months stay as a doctoral student at the SPPU in Pune was incredibly enriching. The knowledge I gained at the Department of Pali and Buddhism has promoted my academic career. I was also able to gain valuable insights into Indian culture and way of life. I am very grateful.”Aspasia Werner, PhD Scholar, University of Göttingen
DAAD Funding Programmes
Looking to launch or strengthen international academic collaboration? The DAAD offers a wide range of funding programmes that support partnerships between institutions in South Asia and Germany. These opportunities include schemes for South Asian universities, German-led initiatives, and joint applications involving institutions from Germany and their partners in South Asia.
Below is a selection of programmes. For details on eligibility, application procedures, and deadlines, please refer to the links. A comprehensive overview of the funding programmes can be found here (in German).
Guest Lectureships for Professors at German Universities
The DAAD-funded Guest Lectureships for Professors at German Universities programme offers Indian faculty the opportunity to teach at a German university, promoting internationalisation and enhancing the global dimension of academic teaching. By participating, professors can share their expertise, engage with German students and faculty, and contribute to cross-cultural academic exchange, while enriching their own professional development and building international networks in the academic community.
Applicant: German Institution
Details: Förderung internationaler Gastdozenten zu Lehrtätigkeiten an deutschen Hochschulen – DAAD
German Indian Academic Network for Tomorrow (SPARC-GIANT)
The participating institutions funder a project funded by this scheme can engage in joint research projects, foster academic mobility, and strengthen long-term academic partnerships. This programme offers opportunities for faculty, researchers, and students to exchange knowledge, deepen academic ties, and contribute to innovative research in both countries.
Applicant: Indian and German Institutions
Internationalisation of German Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW.International)
The programme aims to enhance the internationalisation of German Universities of Applied Sciences by fostering international collaboration. Participants can engage in projects that prepare students from German and South Asian participating institutions under the project for the globalised job market, focusing on industry-relevant skills and strengthening ties with German businesses and international partners. This initiative helps universities of applied sciences expand their global reach while equipping students with the knowledge and experience needed for success in the international labour market.
Applicant: German Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW)
Details: Internationalisierung der Hochschulen für Angewandte Wissenschaften – Kurzmaßnahmen – – DAAD
Project-based Personnel Exchange Programme (PPP)
This co-funded Programme, in cooperation with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, fosters collaboration between Indian and German research teams working on joint research projects. This programme supports the exchange of researchers, enabling them to share expertise, enhance their collaborative efforts, and accelerate the progress of innovative research. Participants can strengthen bilateral ties and gain valuable international experience in their respective fields.
Applicants: Indian and German Institutions
Details: Programm des Projektbezogenen Personenaustauschs (mit verschiedenen Ländern) – DAAD
Fact Finding Missions
The programme supports the initiation and strengthening of long-term partnerships between German universities and institutions in developing countries. German institutions can visit potential partners to explore collaborative opportunities, identify shared research interests, and establish sustainable academic relationships at the department or university level across all subject fields. This programme helps lay the groundwork for future academic and research collaborations.
Applicant: German Institution
Details: Fact Finding Missions – DAAD
SDG Partnerships
This programme facilitates the establishment of collaborations between German higher education institutions and institutions in developing and emerging countries. Through this programme, participants can work on strengthening structures at partner institutions in areas such as teaching, research, and research management. The focus is on promoting sustainable development and fostering long-term academic partnerships aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Applicant: German instituion
Details: SDG-Partnerschaften – DAAD
Bilateral Exchange of Academics
The programme t supports the exchange of scientists and academics, fostering mutual learning and joint research projects. In India, the programme collaborates with prestigious institutions like the IITs and CSIR, providing opportunities for academic and research staff to strengthen ties and share expertise. A reciprocal visit by the German counterpart is a key component of this programme, ensuring balanced and meaningful academic exchange.
Applicant: Indian and German institution
Details: Bilateral Exchange of Academics (to Germany) – DAAD – Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
International Study and Training Partnerships
Participants under the selected projects can work on creating credit transfer agreements, developing joint curricula, and fostering deeper academic collaboration between institutions at an institutional or departmental level. This programme supports the integration of international perspectives into higher education, enhancing the global exchange of knowledge and expertise.
Applicant: German Institution
Details: ISAP – Internationale Studien- und Ausbildungspartnerschaften – DAAD
Higher Education Excellence in Development Cooperation (EXCEED)
The programme supports German higher education institutions in establishing competence centres and networks with multiple partner institutions in developing countries. Participants can collaborate on capacity-building initiatives, promote sustainable development, and strengthen academic and research excellence in global development cooperation. This programme fosters long-term partnerships to address pressing challenges in developing regions.
Applicant: German Institution
iHED - International Higher Education Dialogue
The International Higher Education Dialogue (iHED), initiated by the DAAD Regional Office New Delhi, fosters collaboration between Germany and South Asia in higher education.
Through conferences and workshops, it promotes knowledge exchange, good practices, and internationalisation. iHED connects international offices of universities in Germany, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan—continuously expanding its network of partners.
Discover the DAAD’s flagship platform for structured Indo-German academic dialogue on internationalisation.
Guidelines for Dual/Double & Joint Degree Programmes
The internationalisation of higher education is a priority for universities and governments worldwide, including Germany and India, which emphasise it as a cornerstone of their policies to enhance higher education and research systems. To support these efforts, the DAAD Regional Office New Delhi released an online publication “Guidelines for Dual/Double & Joint Degree Programmes”. It offers practical support for Indian and German institutions seeking to establish semester exchanges, as well as double and joint degree programmes at all academic levels.