A doctor need not be a “Dr.”

Everyday I find at least one message in my mailbox by a “Dr. Sunil” or “Dr. Gita”, asking for the possibility of doing “postgraduate medical studies” in Germany. Initially I was confused: If they have already taken a medical doctorate, why do they ask about “postgraduate studies”? “Postgraduate” in Germany and the US is another term for doctoral, “graduate” meaning master-level and “undergraduate” bachelor-level studies.

Very soon it became clear to me that all the “Dr. Sunils” and “Dr. Gitas”, who contact me, are in fact doctors but not “Drs.” What caused the confusion is the so-called “courtesy title” used by medical graduates (MBBS) in some English-speaking countries, including those of the Indian subcontinent. This is a practice that you should forget as soon as possible when you are dealing with Germany, not because Germans are “uncourteous”, but because they have a somewhat legalistic attitude towards academic titles.

“Courtesy titles”, as the one automatically “awarded” to medical graduates in India and other countries, are considered a discriminatory practice in Germany, as they put graduates of other disciplines, who need to do a doctorate first in order to earn the title of “Dr.”, at a disadvantage. Therefore, if you are a medical graduate and deal with German universities, hospitals or other official authorities, do not use the title “Dr.” at your own discretion. “Dr.” is a protected academic title in Germany, and putting a “Dr.” before your name without having completed a doctorate is a legal offence. Just in case you didn't know…

Should you ever have the opportunity to walk through a German city, take a look at the plates that doctors put up outside their practices. You will notice that most of them use a “Dr.” before their names. Yes, after what has been said above, you are right in surmising that all of these doctors are not availing themselves of a “courtesy title” but have in fact completed a medical doctorate. The first medical degree in Germany being a master-level degree (there is no bachelor of medicine in German-speaking lands), it is a normality for the vast majority of medical doctors to acquire a doctorate before opening their own practice.

And, finally, if you have already taken a medical degree from another country and want to upgrade your qualification, I am not the right person for you to contact. My counselling extends only to undergraduate medical studies in Germany, in other words, I focus on those who wish to become German-trained doctors from scratch.

Chris

germanstudycentre@gmail.com

Is Germany a “racist” country?

Racism and racial discrimination are sensitive issues, whether in Germany or elsewhere. Few people will openly admit that they are racially biased, but in fact most of us are – to a certain extent. Think for a moment: If you meet a stranger, what are the first things you notice and pay attention to? Of course, his or her skin colour (the “largest organ”), hair and eye colour, height, etc. Personality and character only come into the picture much later, when communication has set in (which is often hampered by language and cultural differences).

Distinctions based on race (or ethnicity) are - so to speak- built into human interaction. Few societies are free of it. Unfortunately, Germany has a notorious reputation for exaggerated racism. Even people, who don't know anything else about the country, have at least heard about the Nazis and their genocide of European Jews. That Hitler and his cronies have been dead for more than half a century and are rightly abhorred by most contemporary Germans is frequently overlooked. Travelling through Asia, I was often shocked to hear in what high regard as a “strong political leader” Hitler is still held by many people. When I replied that Hitler was not a “political leader” but a ruthless despot who destroyed the country in a senseless war and murdered millions of people, I earned puzzled looks.

Foreign commentators are inclined to compliment Germans on “having learned their lessons” after WW II. Well, at least those in the western part of the country have, I would add. East Germans, living under totalitarian communist rule for 40 years, had little chance to learn about tolerance and the acceptance of people who are in some way different. No wonder, then, that once the “iron curtain” fell, and people with different faces and habits started moving into former East Germany, the local population often reacted in a less than welcoming manner. Widely reported cases of physical attacks on foreigners brought up memories of an inglorious past.

It has been more than two decades now that Germany became reunited again. In many regards, the country has returned to the normality of its European neighbours, meaning that people with right-wing extremist and racist views make up only a tiny minority of the total population. Todays so-called “neo-Nazis” are neither more numerous nor more dangerous than similar “white power” groups in other Western countries. Nazism and its contemporary spin-offs have been outlawed and marginalised in the public sphere throughout Germany.

As an international student in Germany, no matter which country you come from, it is very unlikely that your life or studies will be in any way affected by the remnants of racism and Nazism. If you show respect for local customs and traditions, as should be a matter of course for every foreigner in any country, you can expect most Germans to treat you politely and welcome you in their midst.

Chris

germanstudycentre@gmail.com

Europe leads in gender equality

When it comes to educational and professional opportunities combined with affordable healthcare and high political participation, women worldwide should take a closer look at Europe. According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2012, published annually by the world economic forum, out of 20 countries with the highest gender equality in the world 15 are located in Europe. Among the four largest economies of the world – USA, Japan, China and Germany – , only Germany made it into the top 20 group. From 2011 to 2012, the United States slipped five places to position 22.

The Global Gender Gap Report ranks countries on their ability to close the gender gap in four key areas: access to healthcare, access to education, political participation and economic equality. The fact that German universities do generally not charge tuition fees and that the government provides subsidies and grants to domestic students has allowed many girls from lower and lower-middle class backgrounds to overcome the financial obstacles of their family backgrounds. 

Asia's highest ranking country in gender equality is the Philippines (8), primarily due to success in health, education and economic participation. China, which is the second lowest ranking country on the health and survival subindex (132) due to a skewed sex ratio at birth, scored highly in terms of female labour force participation (74%). Japan (101) and South Korea (108) are among the lowest ranking OECD economies. India (105) is the lowest-ranked of the BRIC take-off economies, while Pakistan is among the bottom 10 countries for primary education, secondary education and literacy.

Particularly disappointing is the situation in the Arab world. Rich countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia performed dismally at positions 107 and 131, respectively. Arab girls and women so far have not benefited from the political transformation taking place in the region. To the contrary, some countries – like Egypt and Syria – have recently experienced a drastic decline in job opportunities and public security for women.

The full report can be downloaded here:

http://www.weforum.org/reports/global-gender-gap-report-2012

Chris

germanstudycentre@gmail.com