To make the diversity of internationalization and the personal commitment of many colleagues and initiatives at TU Dresden more visible and to honor it accordingly, the Internationalization Award has been handed out annually since 2016. On October 22, 2024, this year's winners were announced and awarded in the presence of the Vice-Rector for University Culture, Prof. Dr. Roswitha Böhm, in the festive hall of TU Dresden’s Rectorate building.

In her laudatory speech, Prof. Böhm emphasized the importance of internationalization in the development of TU Dresden into a modern university of the 21st century. This path can only be taken thanks to the dedicated colleagues and students who, through their work and their visions, make our university a place that is globally connected and esteemed and welcomes international guests in a supportive and heartfelt manner.

The debate about the global challenges of our time, such as the effects of climate change, scarcity of resources and war but also the desire to find solutions on both a small and large scale, were reflected in this year's winning projects of the internationalization award.

Dr. André Lindner was awarded for his great personal commitment to the “Global Academic Impact Initiative for Multilateral Engagement”. In cooperation with the ABCD Centre and UNU-Flores, TU Dresden took part in two United Nations events (UN 2023 Water Conference and UN SDG Summit 2023) and was able to impressively illustrate the important role that universities play in tackling global challenges and promoting multilateral cooperation. The team of the student association elbMUN, which has existed at TU Dresden since 2010, was also honored for its outstanding and continuous work in teaching diplomatic skills and involving young people in international discourse.

Amelie Wagner impressively shows how the arrival of international students at TU Dresden can be facilitated and how integration and intercultural exchange can successfully go hand in hand. With her personal commitment, she addresses the hurdles that need to be overcome in order to create a welcoming culture at TU Dresden, not only for students from Europe, but also the Global South e.g. Subsaharan Africa.

Science lives and benefits from international exchange. One shining example of the aforementioned is the international research cooperation between the Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology and the leading research institutions in South Korea, in which the collaboration not only leads to excellent research results, but also enriches the personal lives of many of those involved.

The potential of alumni work to solve environmental and development-related issues is clearly demonstrated by the international alumni network “Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management” (INREM), which was founded at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences in 2022. The network is being recognized for its sustainable and long-term contribution to interdisciplinary solutions to global problems.

As in 2022, this year's DAAD Award for International Students was also announced during the ceremony. The award winner, Maria-Catalina Costache, was honored for her many years of commitment to the student platform AEGEE-Europe e.V. and the organization of the impressive exhibition "Unissued Diplomas".

© Detlev Müller

The Internationalization Award is part of the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments. Detailed information on the award-winning projects can be found on our website.

Contact Internationalization Award:
Daniela Mohrich und Sarah Nieder
International Office, Team Strategie und Internationalisierung
Tel.: +49 351 463-35169; 32125

Contact DAAD Award:
Cornelia Hesse
International Office
Tel.: +49 351 463 36330