Regionalwissenschaften für die Zukunft fit machen

Although language learning has become more attractive thanks to new, flexible, mobile software solutions, and foreign language skills are in demand in the labour market, many regional and language studies have experienced declining student numbers for years. This article assumes that this paradox is due not only to social changes, geopolitical influences, media coverage and soft power, but also to the structure of many study programmes and the skills they teach. These skills no longer meet the real requirements of the labour market, or only meet them inadequately. Departments therefore urgently need to adapt existing programmes to better meet the needs of students and the labour market, bearing in mind the various career paths students may take. This essay puts forward three proposals to make programmes of regional studies more attractive: promoting transversal competences through strategic partnerships; introducing new collaborative and international learning formats; developing alumni networks to better promote the study programmes on the one hand and providing individual coaching to help students prepare for a range of career opportunities after graduation.