Ich bin Da (2020-2022)
Faces behind the statistics of international students in Germany
"Ich Bin Da" is a long-term photographic project that explores the vital link between Germany’s demographic crisis, the internationalization of its universities, and the resulting integration of former international students into the national workforce.
Germany has one of the world's most rapidly aging populations. As the 'baby boomer' generation reaches peak retirement, the workforce—currently at 51.2 million—is projected to shrink drastically, potentially falling to 37.1 million by 2070.
A long-term solution lies within Germany’s higher education system. By internationalizing universities—particularly in regions facing depopulation—the country is cultivating a new generation of skilled professionals. Currently, Bildungsausländer (international students) make up nearly 15% of all enrollments.
In 2020 I started travelling through German Universities to collect stories of individuals who decided to leave their families behind and move to Germany to study and eventually to start a career once they graduate. Turning the numbers (commonly associated with the field of statistics) into faces, has allowed me to put forward their experiences and create empathy around the diversification they provide not only to the higher education system, but also to the labor market and the country as a whole.
By presenting the faces behind the statistics, “Ich bin da” hopes to foster a wider sensibility among all who are directly involved – be it students, universities, institutions, or German employers. The hope is also that in raising awareness on what the internationalization of higher education means on a more personal and therefore tangible level for society, the benefits that this diversity brings to the country as a whole will become more apparent and will be of interest to the wider public.
