DAAD scholars bridge Russia and Germany

Beate Kolberg, Head of the DAAD Information Centre in St Petersburg, congratulated the new scholarship recipients on their victory. "Just like in previous years, the selection committee faced the challenge of choosing the best candidates from different parts of Russia. The fact that you are here today is your personal achievement and a sign of our respect for your work," said Ms Kolberg. "I have a message for you: use every opportunity provided by the scholarship, and, after returning to St Petersburg, apply the newly acquired knowledge and experience for the benefit of your country. Do not look at your trip as a one-way road, because we in Germany can also learn a lot from Russia and its people, so please feel free to share with us your knowledge of the Russian history, culture and language. You should also work on mutual understanding between our countries. Try to get your German friends and colleagues interested in Russia — that will be useful for both countries."

483 applications out of the total of 1600 were approved, with 61 scholarships awarded to undergraduate and graduate students as well as to teachers of St Petersburg universities. Thus, our city once again confirmed its special status of the centre of education and science, being ahead of Moscow in terms of the ratio of approved appeals to those submitted: almost every third candidate got the opportunity to go to Germany.

An important part of an academic exchange is networking between the scholarship recipients of the previous years with those who have just received their certificates and will soon be sent on an educational or scientific internship. For example, Elena Badanina, an associate professor at SPbU, became a DAAD scholar for the fifth time. Firsts she won the competition in 1993, as an SPbU aspirantura programme student, which resulted in an internship at the Institute of Mineralogy of RWTH Aachen University. In 2001, Elena received a scholarship to work at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, and in 2008 and 2012 — to work at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hannover. As the associate professor has told us, each trip gives her a strong impetus for further work. Thus, the first scholarship motivated her to study at the Gemmological Institute in Idar-Oberstein, the second one — to conduct research on the DESY synchrotron in Hamburg. Her work at the BGR resulted in active participation in the creation of the SPbU Centre for Geo-Environmental Research and Modelling (GEOMODEL).

The ceremony was also attended by Stefan Kordasch, Deputy Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in St Petersburg, who was a DAAD scholar as well. "I saw myself that staying in another country allows us to establish close relations with it," said Mr Kordasch. "There are certain political tensions between our countries today, so an exchange that may improve them is now more important than ever. Yet I am glad that in these hard times scientific relations are maintained and many talented students and scientists receive such scholarships. I would like to thank DAAD for supporting the scientific exchange process."

The scholars were awarded certificates in seven different programmes: students will go to Germany to improve their German speaking skills or continue their academic education; the scientists will be able to work on their theses or implement research projects. A special programme titled "Dmitry Mendeleyev" was established for SPbU staff and aspirantura programme students. 19 SPbU students will go on research internships this year within the framework thereof.