EAIE 2025: Attracting and retaining international students to address the workforce shortages in the EU

"We suffer from a shortage of skilled workforce in most European countries. So, as a higher education institution, if we want to help solve the situation, we should attract highly qualified international students and train them for jobs where we have these shortages", establishes Kamilla Trubicki, Head of the International Office at the School of Engineering of the University of Applied Sciences of Austria, on 11/09/2025.

She is speaking during the EAIE annual conference, taking place from 09 to 12/09 in Gothenburg (Sweden), in a session about retaining international students in Europe.

"We have discussions with them regarding their aspirations, dreams and goals, what they want to achieve during and after the time with us. We often find that they're unsure in terms of whether they should stay or go back home after they graduate."

According to her, Europe is relying on these international students, as the data shows that the European population isn't going to grow based on birth, but based on migration. The European Commission counts 1.7 M international students coming to the EU in…