“Change by Exchange” and Spend a Semester Germany: DAAD Visits Taylor’s University
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) promotes and encourages the internationalisation of education in Germany and is focused on bringing change to the world through the exchange of ideas, scholars and students. The Director of DAAD in Malaysia recently visited the Lakeside Campus.
(L-R) Prof Perry Hobson (PVC-GE), Nils Wischermann (Duale Hochschule Baden-Wuerttemberg Karlsruhe, Germany), Alexandra Werdich (Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany), Jayvien Lau (Head, Student Exchange), Dr Brian Trenaman (DAAD)
Founded in Heidelberg in 1925 on the initiative of a single student, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has since become one of the most significant funding organisations in the world for the international exchange of students and researchers. Since it was founded, around two million scholars in Germany and abroad have received funding from DAAD. While its members are German institutions of higher education and student bodies, its activities go far beyond simply awarding grants and scholarships. DAAD supports the internationalisation of German universities, promotes German studies and the German language abroad, assists developing countries in establishing effective universities and advises decision makers on matters of cultural, education and development policy.
The motto of the DAAD is “Change by Exchange” – a concept that applies to more than the students and researchers it supports. After all, as the Director DAAD, Professor Margret Wintermantel, has pointed out, “exchange promotes understanding between countries and individuals and helps secure the peace. New scientific findings enable us to meet global challenges. Cooperation contributes to political and social progress” adding that, “DAAD stimulates internationalisation and global responsibility. It acts as an independent intermediary between various partners and their interests. The real motors of change, however, are students and researchers who cross borders every day through their work, and the institutions of higher education which support them in their commitment”. DAAD has an office in KL to support the engagement of German education institutions and students in Malaysia. Mr. Brian Trenaman, the Director of The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), was invited to visit the Lakeside campus to meet some of the German exchange students studying with us.
Taylor’s University exchange partners in Germany already include; the University of Augsburg, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences (HAS), Biberach University of Applied Sciences, Cologne Business School (CBS), Duale Hochschule Baden- Wuerttemberg (DHBW), European University Of Applied Sciences, Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences, Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, Technical University Ingolstadt, Rheinmain University of Applied Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Konstanz, Technical University Clausthal, and SRH University Heidelberg. Recent German exchange students to TU have written about their experiences at Taylor’s University and why Malaysians should study in Germany.
Our engagement goes beyond semester exchange, and Taylor’s has also hosted, who have come to Malaysia to look at ways German companies might go about expanding overseas. Furthermore, Taylor’s students have undertaken short-term mobility trips to Germany in and Professor Perry Hobson, the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement who recently said that, “we are pleased that every semester we get so many German students coming to study with us, as it adds diversity to the academic life on the Lakeside campus. We are looking forward to exploring new ways of working with DAAD, and further broadening our range of engagements with German institutions”. To find out more about the exchange opportunities at Taylor’s University click here - (Global Matters 2018).
