Latest news with #Ackermann
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Ambitious, smart, industrious Indian students are welcome: German envoy urges to choose state-run universities
By Shafali Nigam New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): German Ambassador to India Dr Philipp Ackermann on Thursday encouraged Indian students to explore state-owned and state-run universities in Germany, which offer better quality education at a lower cost. Germany is positioning itself as a global hub for higher education, focusing on attracting Indian students and professionals. With 50,000 Indian students already studying in Germany, the country is keen to increase this number, particularly in top universities. The ambassador highlighted the benefits of studying in Germany, including low fees, high-quality education, and a welcoming environment for skilled labour. These universities offer top-class education at a lower cost than private institutions. He also warned against private colleges that may not provide the same quality of education. Speaking exclusively with ANI, Ackermann highlighted the country's liberal laws for skilled labour immigration and its excellent experience with Indian students. 'We have very liberal laws when it comes to skilled labour immigration. I feel that in skilled labour, we are very good and performing. What is of interest to us is that when it comes to higher education, we have 50,000 Indian students in Germany, the biggest non-German group at German universities. We want to increase this number; we want to increase it specifically in one area, namely, in the top universities area. Now, our experience with Indian students is excellent. We have had a very, very good experience with the ambitious, industrious, and very courageous bunch of people from this country who made it after graduation and had an opportunity to get jobs after graduation. Now, when you see what happens in the world, you see the US being much more difficult, and so easily, you see, people's background being checked in the US. I can state only very firmly that these ambitious, smart, and industrious students are very welcome in Germany,' said the German envoy. Germany is emerging as a premier destination for Indian students seeking top-class education and skill development, and it offers high-quality education, particularly in technical and STEM subjects, at a lower cost compared to countries like the US. 'They get a first-class education, above all in technical subjects, or in STEM subjects, but at a much lower cost than in the US. So, I encourage these smart and ambitious students of India who want to get a top-class education, if you don't get what you want in other parts of the world, focus on Germany,' said Ackermann. Language is not a barrier, as courses are taught in English, making it easier for Indian students to adapt. Moreover, state-owned and state-run universities in Germany offer affordable education, making it an attractive option for students. The ambassador advises Indian students to be cautious of private colleges in Germany that may not offer the same quality of education as state-owned universities. These colleges often charge high fees and may not provide a German diploma. 'Language is not an issue. The courses are taught in English. The fees are very low. At the same time, I have to say that we see agencies here in India aggressively recruiting students for non-German colleges in Germany. Private colleges, coming from other countries, third countries, like the UK, Poland, Italy, and after graduation, do not produce a German diploma. It's a pretty sure Italian diploma. So, we are very concerned that these colleges do not charge much money. People pay a lot of money for education, which is not to be compared to the education that state-owned and state-run universities offer, which is much cheaper and much better. So, I would say that I would encourage every student in India to look first and foremost at the state-owned and state-run universities in Germany to check whether they have something that interests them. It is by far the better choice,' said Ackermann. Philipp Ackermann also discussed the country's foreign policy approach towards India, highlighting the strong commitment of the new German government to the Indo-German partnership. He emphasised the importance of personal meetings between leaders and officials of both countries. 'I think we can say now that Germany, with the new government under the new Chancellor, the new coalition, has exactly the same focus on India as the previous government. We have seen a very successful visit by Dr Jaishankar in Berlin. In the last month, we had a very fruitful conversation between the Chancellor and Prime Minister Modi. We'll have a series of visit of parliamentarians, foreign secretaries, other ministers will come. So, I think we will see a series of very interesting personal meetings in the course of the year, and that shows how strongly the new government is committed to this Indo-German partnership. So, I am very happy about that,' he added. Germany and India are collaborating on climate change, smart cities, and biodiversity projects, marking a shift from traditional development cooperation to a partnership of equals. 'India and Germany are partners in a common effort to get a grip on what is really pressing in the world. Therefore, both sides have agreed in what we call for partnership of green and sustainability developments. It's a very interesting partnership where India and Germany sit together every year and identify projects where you can implement measures that are fighting climate change, improving smart cities, in favour of biodiversity and its consequences. It's a partnership on equal footing, and I think we are beyond development cooperation areas,' said Ackermann. The ambassador also praised Dr Jaishankar's recent visit to Germany, describing it as a huge success. 'The visit was a huge success. We are always very happy when the Minister of External Affairs travels to Germany. It was a very important visit because it was the first visit for the new foreign minister to Germany. I think the bilateral visit went excellently. Dr S Jaishankar also met the new Federal Chancellor. He met with parliamentarians and gave a speech at a Think tank. So, it was a very comprehensive and good visit. I think it made an Indian point of view very clear,' said the German Ambassador. He highlighted the importance of the visit in strengthening bilateral ties and conveying the Indian perspective on various issues, including the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. 'Dr Jaishankar is an extremely eloquent and very intelligent foreign minister. He can wonderfully explain things. I think the Indian point of view was heard and seen. Everywhere he went, it was made very clear how terrible we felt the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and what a disaster that is for the families who lost their loved ones, and if that is not an act of terror, then what is an act of terror? Our sympathies and feelings were shared with Dr S Jaishankar because that also shocked Germany,' said Ackermann. (ANI)
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pressure on for 'massive' Saints game
Gloucester face a "massive" game against Northampton says director of rugby George Skivington, despite a top-four finish in the Premiership being out of their hands. The Cherry and Whites are fifth in the table, two and three points respectively behind Bristol - who host Harlequins - and Sale, who travel to Exeter in the final round of fixtures on Saturday. Gloucester, who have never reached the top four since Skivington took over in June 2020, need one of the sides above them to slip up if they are to reach the play-offs. "It's a massive game for us, we have to win it, nothing outside that matters," Skivington told BBC Radio Gloucestershire. "We know things have to go our way so there's some pressure on this week to make sure we deliver what we can. "We're not exactly where we want to be but we're right on the edge; all we can do is rip into this week which the boys have done, get as focused and as ready as we can and focus on beating Northampton Saints." Ackermann, Harris and Clarke among Gloucester exits Prop Ford-Robinson signs new Gloucester deal When the Premiership resumed after a two-month break in March, Gloucester were third in the table. But defeats by Bath and Saracens dropped them out of a tight race at the top and their hopes received a major hit two weeks ago when they were beaten 38-19 by Harlequins to leave their fate out of their hands. "We'd love to be able to have a shot at it, there's always going to be a few results you look at and go 'we could have made life a bit easier'," Skivington said. Whatever the result on Saturday, their league campaign has still been a marked improvement on the past two years, when Gloucester finished 10th out of 11 in 2022-23 and ninth out of 10 last season. They implemented a new, more expansive style of play last summer and have often proved one of the most exciting attacking outfits in the Premiership with their 535 points scored significantly more than the 400 of last season. "I think we've been brave enough to try something different, to push it in a different direction. It's not been perfect - there's always bits you look at and go 'if we'd done this, if we'd done that' and that's the beauty of it," Skivington said. "There's bits that we'll definitely next year want to get better at to support the good work we've done this year. "But overall I've been really pleased with everyone in this building. Now we've just got to finish the job off, control what we can and focus on this game - whatever happens, try and have a good day at Kingsholm." Saturday's match will mark the final appearance in Cherry and White for a number of players including full-back Santiago Carreras, centre Chris Harris and back-rows Ruan Ackermann and Freddie Clarke, who are among 19 leaving the club this summer. Ackermann, who made more than 170 appearances for Gloucester after signing in 2017, said he wanted to make the fans "proud" before bowing out. "I always just wanted to get respect from the fans at Kingsholm. I feel they deserve a lot for the support they give," Ackermann said. "All I can always do is make them proud and hopefully on the weekend we can have one more game at home where I can walk off and say I've given everything to them." The 28-year-old has not confirmed where he will play next season but said he knew for a while he would be leaving Gloucester. "I think I'm getting to a stage now in my life where there was a feeling from the club and me that I feel I needed to go," he said. "It's more the reality sank in the last two, three months when you say to them 'I probably need to move on'. The club's got their ambitions and mine has changed a bit because of how things are going, and [you have to] try to accept it."
The Citizen
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Future of baseball threatened by advent of digital age
THE 1950s were considered the golden years for baseball before the popularity waned during WWII and then returned afterwards. Baseball, often confused with softball, is played in all provinces with established leagues. Gauteng, Western Cape, and KZN lead the pack. Players and teams have even represented the country globally. Chairperson of eThekwini Baseball Federation Fritz Ackermann offered some insight into the sport, 'There is genuine interest in baseball as a sport; however, the momentum is not as high as it used to be. Back in the day, we used to fill stadiums, and we enjoyed full support. The younger generation is not as keen, but we are consistent in planting efforts to revive it and keep it relevant through clinics and refresher coaching for players and umpires at the grassroots level. 'We often meet challenges of funding to take our efforts even further. Equipment and kits are expensive, and many young hopefuls come from disadvantaged backgrounds. But we're hopeful,' said Ackermann. He adds that the emergence of digital sports has contributed to youth showing less interest in baseball, or any other physical sport. 'With the next Olympics, some KZN players will be part of the team representing the country. This is one way the youth can be motivated to take baseball as a sport. Some schools, though very few, have active baseball leagues, but the key to reviving the sport squarely lies with the support of parents and teachers, to plant the seed and be consistent in their support.' Ackermann believes that the Department of Education can play an even bigger role by imposing legislation on baseball as a sports code in schools because 'a lot of children are missing out'. Also read: Glenwood teen to represent SA at baseball world cup He is positive that the introduction of Baseball5 (B5) will see the growth of interest and rope in fresh players and fans. B5 is a simplified, urban version of baseball and softball played by two teams of five players each, with the goal of scoring runs by hitting a ball and running around a diamond. It's designed to be accessible, inclusive, and fun, particularly for youth, and can be played in various locations with minimal equipment, requiring only a rubber ball. Unlike traditional baseball, there is no pitcher, with the batter starting each play with the ball. The South African baseball community remains actively involved in development and scouting, although limited resources and infrastructure can hinder the sport's growth. For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
SA Rugby strike a deal with Johan Ackermann
The former Lions coach returned to South Africa at the beginning of the year from Japan. Johan Ackermann will reportedly remain employed by SA Rugby and help coach the Junior Springboks for at least two more months. According to Rapport, the former Lions coach – whose six-month contract as a consultant was set to expire on 30 June – has signed an extension that keeps him on the books until the completion of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy (29 June — 19 July). It is understood that Saru general manager Dave Wessels' intervention ensured Ackermann will remain with the squad throughout their campaign. Rapport understands that any negotiations with other teams would need to accommodate Ackermann's extended commitment to the Junior Boks. The 54-year-old joined Saru in January after concluding his technical advisor role with Japan's Urayasu D-Rocks. The Junior Boks kicked off their U20 Rugby Championship last week with a 36-25 victory over Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with Australia next up on Tuesday. Ackermann also previously coached the Lions to two Super Rugby finals in 2016 and 2017. He joined Gloucester in England in 2018 for a few seasons before heading to Japan. This story first appeared on It is republished here with permission.
The South African
29-04-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Junior Springboks: U20 Rugby Championship fixtures
For any rugby enthusiast in South Africa, there is always great interest in the performances of the Junior Springboks, particularly as it presents an opportunity to see some 'next gen' stars take flight. The Junior Springboks are now in the final stages of their preparations for the U20 Rugby Championship, and according to the team's coaching consultant Johan Ackermann, they are eager to showcase their skills against some of the world's best junior teams. The Junior Boks will begin their campaign next Thursday against Argentina at 16:10, following the tournament opener between New Zealand and Australia at 14:00. Ackermann, who together with SA U20 assistant coach Lumumba Currie are focusing on the forwards, highlighted the importance of the set pieces in their preparations: 'We are working hard on our set piece because we know we are up against some of the best international teams that are going to test us on all fronts.' 'It's always good to be in the Eastern Cape where there is such a passion for the game,' added Ackermann. 'We have a wonderful group of boys who are eager to learn and looking forward to testing their skills against the best in the Southern Hemisphere.' The format of the competition remains the same, with all teams playing each other once in a three-match round robin across three match days. Thursday, 1 May 14h00: New Zealand vs Australia 16h10: Junior Boks vs Argentina Tuesday, 6 May 14h00: New Zealand vs Argentina 16h10: Junior Boks vs Australia Sunday, 11 May 14h00: Argentina vs Australia 16h10: Junior Boks vs New Zealand Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
