DAAD Prize
for special academic achievements and intercultural commitment of foreign students
German VersionWhat is the DAAD Prize?
Since 2012, the TH Wildau has been awarding the DAAD Prize of 1,000 euros annually to honour outstanding academic achievements and active participation in university life by international students. The DAAD Prize is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and is aimed for international students who are enrolled as regular students at German universities.
Application and Deadlines:
Please note that students cannot submit applications. Instead, teachers at TH Wildau must nominate students for the award.
Letters of recommendation must be submitted by e-mail to incoming(at)th-wildau.de by the 12. November at the latest.
Selection criteria:
Selection criteria are excellent academic performance and social/intercultural engagement.
Nominations may be made for:
- Students with foreign citizenship who have acquired their higher education entrance qualification abroad.
- Students who are enrolled in a regular degree programme at TH Wildau (no guest students, no exchange students, no participants in a preparatory programme).
- Students in an advanced study phase, i.e. at least in the 2nd year of study in the Bachelor's programme or 2nd semester in the Master's programme.
Selection:
The selection committee of the TH Wildau, consisting of members of the Presidential Board and the International Office, reviews the application documents and makes the decision on the award winner.
Award winners since 2012:Open areaClose area
(PresseBox) (Wildau, 27.09.2012) One of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) prizes for outstanding achievements by foreign students at German universities, each worth €1,000, went this year to Alfredo Azmitia Rugg from Guatemala. The Master's student in Telematics at Wildau University of Applied Sciences received the award both for his excellent study results and for his social commitment. In addition, he fulfilled all of the DAAD's formal criteria: he had earned his Abitur abroad, holds only foreign citizenship, is a recent graduate and is not an exchange student from one of TH Wildau's partner universities.
Alfredo Azmitia completed a Bachelor's degree in Telematics at TH Wildau from 2005 to 2008. After successfully graduating, he went to St. Petersburg/Russia for the "Okhta Centre" high-rise project planned by the oil company Gazprom and worked there for two years at a mobile phone provider. In 2010, he returned to Wildau and began his master's degree in telematics, where he was one of the best students in his matriculation class. He is now a research assistant in a research group at TH Wildau.
In addition, Alfredo Azmitia distinguished himself with a high level of social and intercultural commitment from the very beginning of his studies in Wildau. Initially, he supported students from Central and Latin America as a so-called "buddy" - a student contact person for all questions - when they started their studies at the TH Wildau. After that, he also worked as a tutor.
One of the prizes of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for outstanding achievements by foreign students at German universities, each endowed with € 1,000, went this year to Tetyana Pishchyts from Ukraine. She is currently a student on the Master's degree programme in Business Administration at Wildau University of Applied Sciences and received the award today, 19 September 2014, as part of the opening of the 2014/2015 academic year and the ceremonial matriculation of more than 1,200 first-year students.
Tetyana Pishchyts came to the Federal Republic of Germany in 2008. Since her Ukrainian university degree was not recognised here, she decided to study business administration at TH Wildau. In doing so, she was supported by the "Otto Benecke Foundation", an association for political and intercultural education, adult education and professional qualification at home and abroad. As a result, she completed her Bachelor's degree with a grade of 1.9 and received a grade of 1.1 on her Bachelor's thesis, which was published in book form by Akademischer Verlag.
In his laudatory speech, Prof. Dr. Lothar Brunsch - Department of Economics, Informatics, Law - highlighted not only Tetyana Pishchyts' outstanding academic achievements, but also her dedicated involvement in various networks, in which especially Ukrainian and Russian citizens who live, study and work in Germany receive support. In addition, she helps German and foreign students at TH Wildau, as well as at other universities, in business administration subjects dominated by mathematics and accounting.
One of the prizes of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for outstanding achievements by foreign students at German universities, each endowed with € 1,000, went this year to Alexandra Makariti from Greece. She is currently a student on the Master's degree programme in Business Information Systems at Wildau University of Applied Sciences and received the award today, 18 September 2015, as part of the ceremonial opening of the 2015/2016 academic year and the enrolment of more than 1,200 first-year students.
Alexandra Makariti was already in Wildau during her Bachelor's degree at the Technological Educational Institute (T.E.I.) in Patras/Greece as an exchange student within the framework of the Erasmus programme of the European Union. Afterwards, she completed a course at the Studienkolleg of the TH Wildau to optimise her German language skills. During her Master's degree, she showed above-average performance. She is currently writing her Master's thesis in cooperation with Sitki Kocman University in Mugla/Turkey, an international partner university of TH Wildau.
In his laudatory speech, Prof. Dr. Jörg Peter, Vice-President for Policy Issues and International Relations, emphasised: "With this award, we not only honour her professional achievement but also her commitment to our university." For example, he said, the Greek-Turkish cooperation on the Master's thesis was a timely intercultural signal. In addition, Alexandra Makariti is involved as a buddy student in looking after other foreign students, helping them settle in and participating in cultural and intercultural events. Her involvement in the team of the TH Wildau's start-up service is also outstanding.
One of the prizes of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for outstanding achievements by foreign students at German universities, each endowed with € 1,000, went this year to Andrés Gil Herrera from Colombia. He is currently a student on the Master's degree programme in Telematics at Wildau University of Applied Sciences and received the award on 23 September 2016 during the ceremonial opening of the 2016/2017 academic year and the enrolment of more than 1,200 first-year students.
After attending German schools in his home country and successfully graduating from both Colombian and international high schools, Andrés Gil Herrera studied on the Bachelor's degree programme in Telematics at TH Wildau from 2012, graduating with distinction in 2015. During this time, he was twice awarded the Deutschlandstipendium for talented and high-achieving students and received recognition for his special commitment to supporting foreign students as part of the university's buddy programme.
"His social commitment did not just begin in Wildau, but already in Colombia," Professor Dr Janett Mohnke from the Telematics degree programme emphasised in her laudation. Among other things, Andrés Gil Herrera had been involved in a project for the children of the poorest quarter of the Colombian city of Medellín and in a project for mentally disabled people.
Andrés Gil Herrera was one of the first developers of the campus app UNIDOS, a mobile information platform for students, lecturers, staff and guests of TH Wildau. He has been a working student at the Berlin engineering company IAV since 2014.
Sara Elizabeth Canales Castro, currently a Master's student in European Management at TH Wildau, was awarded the DAAD Prize for Outstanding Achievement by Foreign Students at German Universities at the opening of the Academic Year 2017/2018 on 22 September 2017. From October 2017, she will spend a semester abroad at the University of Córdoba.
One of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) prizes for outstanding achievements by foreign students at German universities, each worth €1,000, went this year to Sara Elizabeth Canales Castro from El Salvador. It is already the eighth award of this kind that has been presented to international students at Wildau University of Applied Sciences since 2007.
Sara Elizabeth Canales Castro - currently a student in the Master's programme in European Management - received the award on 22 September 2017 during the ceremonial opening of the 2017/2018 academic year and the matriculation of the first-year students.
After graduating from the German School in San Salvador, she studied in the Bachelor's programme European Management at TH Wildau from 2013, which she completed with distinction. She has been in the Master's programme since September 2016 and will spend a semester abroad at the Universidad de Córdoba/Spain from October 2017. She is aiming for a double Master's degree from TH Wildau and the university in the Andalusian provincial capital.
Sara Elizabeth Canales Castro has been a student assistant at the university library since 2014. In his laudatory speech, library director Dr Frank Seeliger highlighted her social commitment in particular. She looks after Latin American students as a buddy, works as a language tandem partner, participates in cultural and intercultural events and helps international students settle in at the university location in Wildau. In the team, she is considered cooperative, determined, responsible, thorough and prudent.
As part of the festive farewell ceremony for the 680 graduates of the 2017/2018 academic year on 19 October 2018, Florence Terryn from Belgium was awarded the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) prize for outstanding achievements by foreign students at German universities. The graduate of the Master's programme in European Management can look forward to prize money of 1,000 euros and is now one of a total of nine international students who have been honoured by the DAAD for best study results and great social commitment at Wildau University of Applied Sciences since 2007.
Florence Terryn studied Business Administration at the Hogeschool Vives in Kortrijk/Belgium and came to Wildau in the winter semester 2015/2016 via the European ERASMUS programme as an exchange student on the Bachelor's degree programme in European Management. This strengthened her desire to study for a Master's degree in European Management at TH Wildau, which she completed in 2018 with a grade of "very good". Her Master's thesis in Marketing dealt with the creation of a conceptual model to support the university's International Office in recruiting international students.
During her studies in Wildau, Florence Terryn volunteered in the Buddy Programme to support international students. She has been an employee in the International Office since 1 August 2018. She had already worked there as a student assistant before. She is well respected in her team with her always friendly manner, and is considered competent and responsible.
During the farewell ceremony for the graduates of TH Wildau on 8 November 2019, Ms Samar Samara was presented with this year's DAAD Award for her extraordinary commitment by President Prof. Ulrike Tippe and nominator Prof. Jörg Reiff-Stephan.
Samar Samara has a refugee background and is therefore very committed to the needs of refugees. She herself attended German courses at the Welcome Centre of the TH Wildau and prepared for her specialised studies and works there as a student assistant. She is also one of the protagonists in the DAAD report on the Integra project. Her portrait can be found under the following link.
In addition, Samar Samara is actively involved in the buddy programme of her degree programme in automation technology and is also involved in professional projects beyond her actual studies - on the one hand in the solar boat project of the TH Wildau and on the other hand in the research group iC3@Smart Production.
We congratulate her and wish her all the best for her personal and professional future.
Nothing is the same this year as in previous years, but there is one thing that the TH Wildau can rely on: its excellent students. And this is true in sense, because on 23 September the award ceremony for the "DAAD-Award for Outstanding Achievements by Foreign Students at German universities" took place. In the interview, award winner JohannesThyssen Tishman talks about his studies, his plans and what makes the TH Wildau so attractive for him.
Dear Mr Thyssen Tishman, congratulations on winning the DAAD Prize from the German Academic Exchange Service. Tell us a little about yourself What are you studying, how long have you been at TH Wildau, where are you from?
First of all, thank you very much. I feel very honoured and very grateful for this award. It motivates me to continue learning and to work hard work hard. I was born in Berlin but grew up in Mexico and have been studying mechanical engineering here at TH Wildau since 2017.
Where and when did you find out that you were receiving the prize - what were your thoughts?
I recently received a call from Ms. Schubert from the International Office, she wanted to meet me to tell me this wonderful news. In her office she told me that I had been nominated for the DAAD Prize. I felt really happy and surprised. I didn't know what to say. This was news that I had not expected. I thanked her profusely and left her office, and immediately called my family to tell them the good news.
Why did you decide to study at TH Wildau?
The first time I heard about TH Wildau was when I was introduced to the university at my school in Mexico. Since I knew that I wanted to study abroad, I became interested in Wildau. When I learned more about the university, the following reasons were decisive:
- It has the Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, which I wanted to study.
- The university is practice-oriented.
- There are a large number of international students here.
- The application process is very well supported by the International Office.
In the end, these reasons motivated me to choose the TH Wildau - a choice I am very happy with.
What would you tell students or professionals who are considering interested in (part-time) studies, why they should study in Wildau?
I would recommend studying in Wildau to anyone, not only because it is a great place to study (the beautiful city of Berlin is just around the corner), but also because studying in Wildau means meeting many people from all over the world and the people from all over the world and learning from some great professors.
What's next for you after you finish your studies? Do you have any career aspirations or perhaps already have a job lined up?
After my studies, I would like to continue my academic development with a Master's degree in shipbuilding. But before that I would like to do some voluntary social work, for example in Africa or India.
And finally: Do you already know what you will use the prize money for?
Since I didn't expect to receive this money, I don't have any concrete plans for it yet. However, lately I have wanted to start and I think this money can be my first great investment.
Career to date: Johannes Thyssen Tishman
Johannes Thyssen Tishmann is a graduate of the German School in Puebla, Mexico, a long-time cooperation institution of TH Wildau. As part of his bachelor's degree, he spent the summer semester of 2020 as Erasmus student at the partner university in the Netherlands, the University of Applied Sciences Windesheim/Zwolle. Despite the Corona pandemic, Johannes Thyssen Tishman stayed in his host country and and completed his planned study project there very successfully. Since the beginning of his studies, he has regularly supported the office of the TH Wildau, for example as a buddy for foreign students. In addition, he was actively involved in the student council of the TH Wildau. From a technical point of view, he was involved as a tutor for the module Kinematics/Kinetics and also took part in various extraordinary tutorials.
"For all these tasks, he is highly qualified through his high social competence and also by his fluent command of several languages, including German, English, Italian and Spanish (mother tongue). Through his outstanding commitment, his empathy and his reliability, he is a valuable contact person for the international students of the TH Wildau." summarises Dr. Angelika Schubert.
Many things in higher education are still far from so-called normality, but there is one thing TH Wildau can rely on: its excellent students. And that applies in a double sense, because on 13 November the "DAAD Prize for Outstanding Achievements by Foreign Students at German Universities" was awarded. In this interview, award winner Jakub Dlouhy talks about his studies, his plans and what makes TH Wildau so attractive to him.
Why did you decide to study at TH Wildau?
That is a longer story. I always knew that I would like to do something in the field of aviation. That's why I didn't really have to ask myself what I wanted to study after graduating from high school, but rather where. First, of course, I looked at what opportunities were available in the Czech Republic. In Prague, it would be possible to study aeronautical engineering, but the university honestly didn't convince me at first glance.
That's why I started to play with the idea of studying abroad. And since I could already speak German relatively well at that point, Germany was at the top of my list. At the end of 2017, I came across TH Wildau on the internet and was immediately impressed: by the campus, the location near Berlin and also by the content of the aeronautical engineering/aeronautical logistics degree programme.
That's why I came all the way from Pardubice to Wildau in May 2018 for the university information day and was even more convinced afterwards that I wanted to study here. In September 2018, after a bureaucratic marathon - there's no other way to describe it (laughs) - I then started studying in Wildau. And today I can honestly say: studying in Wildau was one of the best decisions I have made in my life so far.
Dear Mr Dlouhy, congratulations on winning the DAAD Prize from the German Academic Exchange Service. Tell us a little bit about yourself: What are you studying, how long have you been at TH Wildau, where are you from?
Thank you very much, receiving the DAAD prize is really a great honour for me. I have been at TH Wildau since September 2018 and am currently studying Aeronautical Engineering/Aeronautical Management in my first Master's semester. As you can tell from my last name and maybe a little bit from my accent, I am not a native German speaker. I come from Pardubice, a medium-sized city in the Czech Republic - 100 km east of Prague - so to get to Wildau, it takes a couple of hours by car (laughs).
Where and when did you find out that you were receiving the prize - what were your thoughts?
I found out from Dr. Schubert here in Wildau in October that I was receiving the DAAD prize, and at first I couldn't believe it. I had to read through Dr. Schubert's email three times to be sure that it wasn't a dream. Those were my first thoughts. I was - and still am - really happy and grateful to have been nominated for this award.
What would you tell students or professionals who are interested in (part-time) studies why they should study in Wildau?
There are really many reasons to study in Wildau. What I find unbelievably great about our university, apart from the large range of courses, is above all the family atmosphere on campus and the contact between students of all disciplines and also with the lecturers. In contrast to large universities, the seminar groups here are quite small, you get to know each other quickly and have spent a lot of time together since the beginning. And there are also many opportunities here besides studying. I can highlight three areas in particular: university sports with many great sports courses, our student club and also the job opportunities at the university. This combination of a wide range of courses, a family atmosphere and great people makes TH Wildau simply unique for me.
What's next for you after your studies; do you have a career aspiration or perhaps already a job in sight?
Now I still have my Master's degree ahead of me; that's the focus at the moment. I don't know exactly what will happen after my studies, but I hope that a few exciting job opportunities will come up in the next two years. In the field of aviation, of course, that's where I see my future. I don't have an exact idea or a career aspiration. Now I have two jobs here at the university, in the ViNN:Lab and in the flight simulator, which I like to call my dream jobs. And I would like to enjoy them a bit more before I start my real professional life (laughs).
And finally: Do you already know what you will use the prize money for?
That's a very good question! I haven't given it that much thought yet, but I'm pretty sure that a large part of it will be invested in travel. Even though it's a bit difficult these days, travelling, getting to know other countries and cultures is simply my passion.
"I personally got to know Talgat Sultanov as a person who clearly stood out from his fellow students the first time I met him," says Prof. Jens Wollenweber in the laudation on 22 October 2022 in the Audimax of our university. For on that day, the "DAAD Prize for Outstanding Achievements by Foreign Students at German Universities" was awarded. In the interview, award winner Talgat Sultanov talks about his studies, his plans and what personal opportunities the prize money opens up for him.
Dear Mr. Sultanov, congratulations on winning the "DAAD Prize for Outstanding Achievements by Foreign Students at German Universities".
Tell us a little bit about yourself: What are you studying, how long have you been at TH Wildau, where are you from?
First of all, thank you very much for your congratulations. I am studying Technical Management and I am currently writing a diploma thesis on the topic of "Process digitalisation of case-related material documentation in the operating theatre". Originally, I come from Almaty, Kazakhstan. I have been living and studying in Wildau since 2019.
When did you find out that you were receiving the award - what were your thoughts about it?
I found out from Dr Schubert's letter. I was not prepared for such news myself. I heard that Jakob Dlouhy was last year's award winner. We subscribed to each other on Linkedin and I am somewhat familiar with his progress. The news was doubly shocking to me, also because I knew who had won the prize before. I was in Munich when I received the news. It was the end of September, and I celebrated the good news with my first visit to the Oktoberfest.
Why did you decide to study at TH Wildau?
As already mentioned, Wildau is a partner in my Bachelor's programme. So in 2019, my choice was not really a choice. However, I decided to continue my Master's here because I think our university is one of the best in logistics. I like the local teaching staff and the high proportion of practical tasks, the knowledge of which will also benefit me in my professional life.ith the programme, participants have the opportunity to earn two diplomas: one Kazakh and one German. The programme is called "double diploma". In 2019, I completed my bachelor's degree in this programme at TH Wildau and will soon do my master's degree as well.
Where and when did you find out that you were receiving the award - what were your thoughts on it?
I found out from Dr Schubert's letter. I was not prepared for such news myself. I heard that Jakob Dlouhy was last year's award winner. We subscribed to each other on Linkedin and I am somewhat familiar with his progress. The news was doubly shocking to me, also because I knew who had won the prize before. I was in Munich when I received the news. It was the end of September, and I celebrated the good news with my first visit to the Oktoberfest.
What can you tell students or professionals who are interested in (part-time) studies why they should study in Wildau?
Our university has various fields of study, and I realise that it is impossible to be good at everything. Therefore, I can only judge the curriculum of my subject. As already mentioned, I am completely satisfied with the teaching staff and the content of the curriculum. I had no reason to complain about the non-academic areas of the university such as the library, student culture or the canteen. The teaching staff are also connected to the industry. I don't think we will always have the opportunity to have someone with such life experience and prestige in front of us, ready to answer any questions.
What's next for you after graduation; do you have a career aspiration or perhaps a job already lined up?
I decided a long time ago that I wanted to spend my life in the medical field. I am currently working as a student trainee at the Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch. My Master's thesis is related to a project in which I am employed. In this way, I combine my professional and academic life. If I receive a job offer in the future that allows me to develop my academic knowledge in a direction that interests me, I won't turn it down.
And finally, do you already know what you will use the prize money for?
I have been thinking for a long time about what to do with this amount. I don't want to spend it only on a semester contribution or food in the canteen. So I decided to buy plane tickets to Kazakhstan to fly home for Christmas. I think I'm starting to get into the holiday mood and want to spend the holiday with my family.
