Hochschule Geisenheim University awarded Ashat Ulukbek Turdumamatov the 2019 DAAD Prize at a welcome event held for first semester students on October 14, 2019. The prize endowed with 1,000 euros by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is awarded to international students or doctorate candidates in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements and exceptional commitment to social work. Turdumamatov has received the award in recognition of his commitment to social work which he has been involved in ever since he first arrived in Germany to complete a degree course in Beverage Technology.
Turdumamatov, who had already completed a degree course in food technology in his home country Kyrgystan, signed up for a year with the German Federal Voluntary Service soon after his arrival in the north of Germany. This consisted of a six-month placement at state-run school camp in Bremen, followed by another six months with a residential group for disabled people in Hamburg. He continued his social commitment during the first year of his degree course at Hochschule Geisenheim University by helping out at a charitable home for the disabled in Hattersheim outside Frankfurt two nights a week. For over a year he has been working weekends as a nursing care assistant at a retirement home in Mainz.
"Ulukbek Turdumamatov is a good example of how dedicated international students are to completing their studies in Germany. They are a huge asset – not only for the university community, but also for society as a whole. We are very pleased to be able to recognise this commitment by awarding the DAAD Prize again this year", said Sonja Thielemann, Head of the International Office at Hochschule Geisenheim University.
The DAAD Prize has been awarded for over ten years now. It objective is to raise the profile and provide a narrative for the large number of international students and doctorate candidates at German universities. It demonstrates that all international students take a little piece of Germany home with them and leave part of themselves behind – a win all round. This year is the fourth time Hochschule Geisenheim University has awarded the prize.
