AGP Executive Report

EU Education & Policy: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to deliver her annual State of the Union on Sept. 16, with migration and a proposed ban on social media for minors expected to dominate as elections across key member states could shift the bloc’s direction. German Politics & Schools: Germany’s far-right AfD is targeting the iconic Bauhaus school in an east-state election push, while broader coverage highlights how AfD’s rise is reshaping the political debate around education and society. Student Support & Vocational Training: Ajara’s government met vocational students and teachers taking part in an internationalisation sub-program, aiming to expose trainees to modern technologies and approaches abroad. Research & Learning Tech: Fraunhofer and Chemnitz University of Technology opened a cryogenic lab for materials and electronics packaging, supporting reliability testing down to 4 K for quantum-related systems. Health & Equity: A report on a US chemotherapy drug shortage notes European Medicines Agency expectations that supply problems may continue into 2027, underscoring ongoing access pressures for patients.

International Education & Student Life: The 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup kicks off in Berlin, with the U.S. aiming for a fifth straight title despite key absences, putting Germany’s role as host front and center. AI & Learning Infrastructure: Nvidia chief Jensen Huang tells G20 ministers that AI is “infrastructure,” urging more data centers to support researchers, students and industry. German Schooling & Safety: Germany’s reported investigation into a second power-plant attack highlights ongoing security concerns around critical sites. Education Policy & Early Childhood: Germany plans language and development tests for all 4-year-olds, signaling a push toward earlier support. STEM & Research: German researchers and partners report advances in medical and tech research, including new approaches that could improve diagnostics and training. Community & Inclusion: A new push to bring Jewish studies into German classrooms adds to the wider debate on curriculum and identity.

Far-Right Election Shock: Germany’s AfD is poised for a historic win in Saxony-Anhalt on Sept. 6, with plans to reshape society, expand deportations, cut support for public broadcasters, and reduce how much children learn about the Nazi past—raising alarms about coded antisemitism and the risk of the first far-right state government since WWII. Education & Inclusion: A Kenyan vocational training centre backed by Germany’s development ministry is expanding facilities for learners with special needs, with new classrooms and dorms aimed at better access. Student Wellbeing Pressure: Germany-focused readers may also note a wider European warning: the UK reports a sharp rise in children and young people attending emergency departments for mental health concerns, underlining how strained support systems are. Mobility & Work Rules: Germany confirms citizens of 31 countries can live and work without a visa or residence permit, easing entry for EU and several European partners.

School Safety in Germany: Police report two people killed in a violent incident at a school near Berlin, with a 19-year-old suspect detained, as the new term begins. Education Policy & Inclusion: Germany is set to introduce Jewish religious education textbooks in schools for the first time since the Holocaust, while churches and education groups push for Christian education across all schools. Higher Education & Mobility: A new India-to-Germany academic pathway is being promoted for OU students, and Germany is attracting record numbers of Indian students as study-abroad demand rises. Teachers & Learning Support: A German teacher is highlighted for attending a major international educators’ conference, reflecting ongoing professional development focus. Campus Life & Student Experience: Link Crew-style peer support is featured in a German-language freshman orientation story, showing how schools use upperclassmen to ease transitions. Broader Context: As Germany’s far-right gains ground in upcoming state elections, churches warn against far-right parties, with implications for school culture and classroom debates.

Digital Infrastructure & Sovereignty: Schwarz Group (Lidl/Kaufland) plans up to €5.6bn by 2033 for a major data centre in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with state leaders pitching it as a step toward “digital independence” from foreign cloud providers. Education & Language Rights: Kurds in Syria fear Damascus will roll back Kurdish-language schooling after changes in the region; in Iraq, a KRG official warns demographic shifts in Khanaqin could violate constitutional protections. School Safety in Germany: Multiple reports over the past days describe a deadly violent incident at a school near Berlin, with a suspect detained. Student Media & Learning Content: German kids’ media group YFE launches Fix & Foxi and RiC.today in Poland, bringing localized and English-language educational programming to the market. STEM & Research: German researchers at TUM and Oxford develop a new satellite-based method to track coastal tides more accurately, supporting flood protection and navigation.

School Safety & Staffing: East Holmes Local Schools approved a school security agreement for 2026-27, plus deputy security roles, open-enrolment places and German consultant contracts. Higher Education Funding: Foreign universities warned Kaduna State over unpaid scholarships, with documents citing threats of expulsion and visa trouble for students studying abroad, including at a German university. Student Exchange: Worthington’s sister-city programme continues as Germany’s Crailsheim student ambassador starts high school in the US, aiming to improve English and experience American school life. Health Research: An ESC Congress study linked higher blood xylitol levels to higher cardiovascular event risk, adding to the debate over artificial sweeteners. Workplace Monitoring: A report highlights how AI and sensors are expanding employee surveillance, raising concerns about stress and fairness. Germany in Diplomacy: Germany’s foreign minister met Tunisia’s president, with cooperation flagged for higher education, research and vocational training.

AI in Education: A new German work-study model is bringing Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences degrees to Colombo via AI Academy, with students earning a BSc in Applied AI and an MBA in AI & Technological Transformation while working on paid real briefs from day one. School Safety & Rights: UK Home Office figures obtained via FOI show at least 100 children aged 12 or under were referred to the Forced Marriage Unit between 2021 and 2025, raising fears some may not return to school in September. German Politics & Inclusion: Germany’s coalition plans to expand its “culture of remembrance” to cover colonial history have triggered criticism from Holocaust memorial leaders, as the debate over how to teach difficult histories intensifies. Higher Education & Policy: Germany is set to introduce Jewish religious textbooks in schools for the first time since the Holocaust, as education policy continues to shift toward more structured religious and historical instruction.

Far-Right Election Warning: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Saxony-Anhalt could be “considerably damaged” if the AfD forms a state government, warning investors and stressing governability ahead of the September 6 vote. Churches & Education Values: German Christian churches are stepping up public messaging against the far right, with calls for Christian education across schools and stronger community dialogue. School Safety & Violence: Reports continue to follow a deadly attack at a German school near Berlin, with authorities detaining a teenage suspect and investigating motives. Jewish Studies in Schools: Germany is set to introduce Jewish religious education textbooks in classrooms for the first time since the Holocaust, as part of a broader push to tackle antisemitism. Policy & Facts Check: A DW fact-check challenges claims by Friedrich Merz in an ARD interview about migration figures, saying the numbers were overstated. Health Research (Education Relevance): New ESC findings highlight how tailored exercise can reduce atrial fibrillation burden and how some heart procedures may not improve quality of life as expected.

German Education & Inclusion: Lower Saxony churches are pushing for “Christian religious instruction” across schools, aiming to blend Catholic and Protestant classes and present differences as “different ways of being Christian.” Higher Education & Mobility: Leipzig signed a letter of intent to set up a German–Vietnam Hub to boost business ties and knowledge transfer, including higher education and training. Schools & Teachers: A new wave of educators is starting the 2026–27 term at Genesis Classical Academy, with a new headmaster named. Student Life & Language: Greenwood County School District 50 highlighted multilingual learners and family support during a “Many Languages, One Community” event. International Study Access: An Afghan activist who won an Oxford place says UK entry was blocked after visa restrictions, raising fresh concerns about study routes. Politics & Migration Anxiety: Ahead of a Saxony-Anhalt election, migrants report fear of an AfD “deportation and remigration” push, with schools and public life likely to feel the pressure. Climate & Learning Context: Europe’s heatwave-driven drought and wildfire impacts are shaping September expectations, with northern areas cooler but the Mediterranean still very warm.

German Education Policy: Germany’s education system is set to get Jewish religious textbooks in schools for the first time since the Holocaust, as the country steps up efforts to tackle antisemitism and protect Jewish life. School Safety & Access: A series of school-attack and school-transport incidents across Europe keeps the spotlight on student safety and emergency response planning. Higher Education & Mobility: New visa and study-access barriers continue to hit students and researchers, including an Afghan activist blocked from taking up an Oxford place—raising fresh questions about how Germany and Europe support displaced learners. Health & Learning Environment: New ESC Congress findings from Munich underline how faster heart-attack diagnostics, remote rehab, and virtual device monitoring could ease pressure on care systems—relevant for schools and universities planning for staff health and wellbeing. Research & Innovation: A Germany-led effort to improve high-altitude climate data via HiM-DATA highlights how education-linked science networks can fill major monitoring gaps.

Education Abroad & Language Learning: Brookville Area High School students used German-focused trips to Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Liechtenstein to turn classroom lessons into real-world culture experiences. Higher Education & Migration Support: A deputy minister urged universities to set up “Migrant Centers” to train and prepare migrant workers for formal jobs abroad. Health Research at ESC 2026 (Munich): New studies reported at the European Society of Cardiology Congress include REACT on silent atherosclerosis detection from early adulthood, plus trials on statins and PCSK9 therapy aimed at preventing heart attacks and strokes. School Safety & Violence (Germany): Reports say two people were killed in a violent incident at a German school, with a suspect detained. International Education Spotlight: An Afghan student awarded a rare Oxford master’s place was blocked from entering the UK after visa restrictions. Sports Training (Germany): German bobsleigh athletes are training in Mallorca ahead of the Winter Olympics.

School Safety & Violence: Germany reports two deaths in a violent incident at a school near Berlin, with a teenage suspect detained, renewing pressure on campus security and how authorities frame such attacks. Education Policy & Curriculum: Germany’s education ministry advances curriculum development ahead of the new academic year, while separate coverage highlights debates over school reading lists and religious education guidance. Higher Education & International Links: A Turkmenistan delegation visits Germany’s Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, underscoring growing academic cooperation. Student Life & Learning Culture: A piece on Germany’s “school cone” tradition connects classroom rituals to childhood literacy. Research & Health: New oncology and biomarker-detection work points to future medical diagnostics, with German-linked research and international collaboration themes running through the week’s science coverage.

Royal Transition: Norway’s King Harald V has died at 89, with Crown Prince Haakon automatically succeeding him after a hospital stay in Oslo for a rare blood condition; the palace lowered flags to half-mast and crowds laid flowers. Education & Youth (International): Switzerland’s “Critical Code” comic book, created for Geneva’s 50th-anniversary Foundation for Geneva, is being used in secondary schools across Geneva and 15 cantons to teach students about multilateral cooperation, published in French, German, Italian and English. Student Wellbeing & Health: A report highlights rising Chinese teen misuse of medication as stress-coping, with authorities tightening rules on cough medicines and young people shifting to other easily bought drugs. Higher Education & Research: UCSF’s Quantitative Biosciences Institute received a $46m grant to expand autism research, linking autism risk genes to shared protein complexes and aiming toward precision medicines. School Safety: Media reports say two people were killed in a violent incident at a German school, with a suspect detained. Learning & Language: The 25th “Chinese Bridge” global finals in Xiamen crowned winners including a Germany-based contestant, continuing the competition’s push for international Chinese-language learning.

School Violence in Brandenburg: Two people were killed in a violent incident at a school near Berlin in Gosen-Neu Zittau; an 18-year-old student and a 30-year-old man died, and a 19-year-old suspect was detained. Police said it does not appear to be a mass shooting, with early reports pointing to a personal relationship. Holocaust Education & Memory: A new German military base in Lithuania’s Rūdninkai Forest is raising questions about the fate of underground bunkers used by Jewish partisans during the Holocaust, as access restrictions appear around the memorial sites. Research Talent Moves: Canada awarded C$504m to 64 global scholars, including researchers poached from the US, to relocate to Canadian universities—highlighting how funding and academic freedom pressures are reshaping higher education. AI Integrity in Education: OpenAI shut down Russia-linked ChatGPT accounts used to promote a fake “expert community,” where most published articles were copied from elsewhere.

Higher Education & Mobility: Germany’s universities are drawing more international students, with Indian enrolment hitting a record 69,816 in the winter semester 2025-26 (+17.5%), as DAAD-linked figures point to lower public tuition costs and more English-taught options. Schooling & Safety: A series of reports highlights how school transport and student safety remain a live issue, including multiple coach and bus crash incidents involving German pupils in the Netherlands, with injuries reported. Policy & Inclusion: Germany is also moving on antisemitism and curriculum inclusion, with coverage noting plans for Jewish religious education textbooks in schools for the first time since the Holocaust. Youth & Wellbeing: A German survey finds almost half of teens (12–17) support social-media age limits, while heavy use is linked to more reported bad moods and sleep problems.

Bundeswehr Recruitment: Berlin’s defence ministry is trying a new approach to attract recruits, using Turkish kebab shop packaging with a camouflage design and a QR code to link directly to Bundeswehr careers. Public Health at Frankfurt Airport: Germany’s health authorities report six malaria cases since mid-July, including two fatal infections among Frankfurt Airport employees, with officials warning staff to seek care after fever-like symptoms. School Community Support: Graham Middle School in Mountain View earned a National PTA School of Excellence for improving family engagement, including multilingual parent support in languages such as German and Spanish. Education & Media: A German court has banned an experimental procedure that surgically joins live mice, reflecting ongoing scrutiny of animal testing methods. Learning Through Stories: A new Saudi-backed game studio unveiled “1001 Threads of Mazin” at Gamescom, adapting the “One Thousand and One Nights” storytelling tradition into an action-adventure for wider audiences.