Expanding the Workforce: UKGM’s Recruitment Efforts in Turkey
Date: 13.05.2024, 06:00 AM
By: Christine Steine_S.
The University Hospital of Giessen and Marburg (UKGM) is home to approximately 1,100 nursing professionals. However, with a growing need for additional qualified staff, the hospital has been actively recruiting foreign personnel for the past four years. A significant part of this initiative is a partnership with Turkey.
Bridging Borders: UKGM’s Mission in Istanbul
Nursing Director Judith Schäfer, along with Sabine Graf-Schäfer (Head of the Nursing School) and Anette Heider (Head of Nursing Assistance Education), traveled to Istanbul as representatives of UKGM. Their goal was twofold: to present employment opportunities at UKGM and to introduce Giessen as a potential new home for the recruits.
The recruitment event, organized in collaboration with the German education provider Sprachportal, brought together young candidates from across Turkey who were eager to explore nursing careers in Germany. Sprachportal’s CEO, Cetin Ak, emphasized the importance of early integration efforts, stating, “Leaving one’s home country is always difficult, which is why integration from the start is crucial.”
Recruitment Success: Growing Interest in Nursing Careers in Germany
During their visit, the UKGM team conducted 50 introductory interviews. More than half of the candidates expressed a strong interest in moving to Germany. The applicants fell into two primary categories:
Certified Nursing Professionals: These individuals can join UKGM after completing a year-long recognition process and a language proficiency examination.
Aspiring Nursing Assistants: UKGM is now also offering opportunities to individuals without prior qualifications. These recruits can undertake a one-year training program as nursing assistants, with the possibility of advancing to a three-year nursing program thereafter.
According to Heider, this new initiative provides a vital entry point for those without the academic qualifications required for direct enrollment in Germany’s nursing education programs.
Why Turkey? Understanding the Motivations Behind Migration
UKGM ensures that its recruitment efforts do not deplete the healthcare workforce in countries that also experience nursing shortages. In Turkey, however, there is a surplus of trained nurses struggling to find employment. Many qualified healthcare professionals in Turkey face limited job opportunities and lack career development prospects.
Financial incentives also play a role. A nurse in Turkey earns roughly one-third of what their German counterparts receive, making the move to Germany an attractive career choice.
Integration Support: A Key to Success
UKGM has already gained positive experience in integrating international staff, particularly from Turkey and the Philippines. The hospital has established an interdisciplinary integration team dedicated to assisting new employees with the transition. This support system has proven highly effective, with only one recruited nurse leaving the program so far.
“The key to success lies in offering intensive guidance and ensuring our new colleagues always have someone to turn to,” says Schäfer.
Looking Ahead: Future Plans for International Recruitment
Recruiting staff from abroad is a complex process, but UKGM views it as a necessary investment in the future of healthcare. “This is only the beginning; we are still far from solving the nursing shortage problem,” says Sabine Graf-Schäfer. However, she highlights that personal engagement, such as face-to-face meetings in Istanbul, plays a crucial role in building trust and making recruitment efforts more effective.
UKGM’s collaboration with Sprachportal also extends beyond recruitment. Sprachportal, a government-accredited education institute, provides language courses essential for professional recognition in Germany and assists with visa applications and credential verification.
For more information, visit: www.sprachportalakademi.com/en
