An agreement between Germany and India was signed on Monday, December 5th 2022. A comprehensive collaboration for migration and mobility was signed by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Both leaders discussed major regional and global problems and evaluated bilateral relations during the meeting. The German foreign minister is currently on a two-day trip to India.

MMPA (Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement)

The India-Germany MMPA (Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement) is part of overall efforts to create a network of agreements with prospective labor market destination countries with twin objectives of creating of favorable visa regime for Indians towards accessing the labor market of these countries - the Ministry of External Affairs stated in a press release issued in New Delhi.

People will be able to work, study in Germany, and conduct research in each other’s countries more easily thanks to the agreement.

“This will be a very strong signal for not just a greater flow of talent and skills between our two societies, but I think also as a basis for a more contemporary partnership,” said, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
“We want highly skilled workers and young people to come to Germany, we want to make it easier for them to study here, to work here or to start a training program,” said Baerbock.

How would the agreement between Germany and India help students?

One of the main outcomes of the agreement is the partnership on migration and mobility, which will encourage more students to enroll in universities in both nations. Indian students would be allowed to pursue dual degrees and joint degrees through the migration and mobility partnership, and there will be no barriers between Indian and German universities at the university level.

India's students have ranked Germany among their top countries of choice for studying abroad. Germany is the top pick because the government supports students, which includes grants, 18-month post-study visas, and other benefits. German students are also receiving educational benefits from the Indian government. In May 2022, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that his country will make it easier for German students to enroll in higher education institutions (HEIs) through initiatives like Study in India.

Indian students will have additional options to participate in research programs in Germany due to the agreement between the two organizations that was signed on December 5. This agreement will support Germany's and India's initiatives to increase the internationalization of higher education systems.