Dear internationals: Denmark needs you and we want you to stay

Dette indlæg bringes efter forfatternes ønske på engelsk. Læs det på dansk her.

It’s a known fact that it can be hard to settle in Denmark when you come from abroad. You might feel you should be thankful if you succeed. We believe, on the contrary, that Denmark owes you thanks.

Dear International students and professionals. Let’s settle this once and for all. Denmark wouldn’t be what it is today without you.

As a country with a small and open economy we are dependent on ideas coming from across the water and down the road. Unemployment is at an all-time low, and companies are in desperate need for qualified employees.

Our aging population is pressuring our economy as a whole and we have never been more desperate for high in-demand skills from abroad, to help drive technological advancements, and further accelerate the innovative potential in our industries.

But as many of you have noticed, there are different political interests towards international students and professionals in Denmark.

Unfortunately, the past years, rules and legislations regarding internationals illustrate an obvious paradox.

We have never been more desperate for high in-demand skills from abroad

Charlotte Mark, Bjarne Lykke Sørensen et al.
See names and titles in byline

As a society we all acknowledge the value of going abroad. Students go on exchange; Danes find exciting jobs abroad; and researchers take research stays in top research environments all around the world.

But politically, Denmark has had a hard time acknowledging that welcoming people from all over the world to our country can be equally enriching. This despite the effort we, as companies and institutions, have done to prove otherwise.

When students, researchers and workers go abroad, they are exposed to different traditions and cultures. They discover new ways of problem solving and thinking.

The same kinds of exchanges happen when we welcome international students and colleagues and integrate them into local environments in Denmark. As researchers and business leaders we see this every day. 

That diversity is enriching is not just something we feel from our own experience.

We know from a recent report from the think tank DEA that group diversity with regards to nationality (and gender, race, political views, etcetera) benefits problem-solving broadly and increases both the quality and relevance of research.

Even in terms of data, the economic benefits from for example providing internationals with an education in Denmark confirm that bringing that kind of diversity to Denmark is an excellent investment.

Politically, Denmark has had a hard time acknowledging that welcoming people from all over the world to our country can be enriching

Charlotte Mark, Bjarne Lykke Sørensen et al.
See names and titles in byline

It is estimated that international students from all higher education programs contribute between 100.000 and 350.000 Danish crowns per student to the public finances during their stay.

However, Danish politicians tend to focus on the costs of welcoming internationals in Denmark instead of focusing on the benefits.

On the contrary, Danish companies, The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, The Confederation of Danish Industry along with many other Danish institutions, share a commitment to focus on the tremendous benefits – cultural, professional, and financial – of attracting more international talent to Denmark. Especially in the long run.

Fortunately, we do see changes in the political landscape regarding the openness towards international labor. A broad political agreement has recently been passed, agreeing to lower the Pay Limit Scheme and changing the fast-track agreement, which makes it easier to attract international labor even to small Danish companies over the next three years. Better times are coming.

However, we need to do more, if we want to keep Denmark in the scope of nations where it is attractive for internationals to come and stay for their entire professional life. As institutions and businesses, we will keep pushing further to change the legislative barriers, so we can both attract and retain international talent.

So dear international students and professionals, Denmark needs you more than ever, and we want you to stay.