MAP student received DAAD Prize
Selected passages from Aisha Abdul Quddus' nomination letter for the DAAD Prize
International students at FAU who have made a lasting impression whilst studying in Germany thanks to their outstanding academic achievements and commitment to social or intercultural projects are awarded the Hans-Wilhelm and Helga Schüßler prize and the prize from the German Academic Exchange Service (the DAAD Prize). The DAAD Prize comes with prize money of €1,000 per university. This year it is our pleasure to announce that MAP student Aisha Abdul Quddus from our matriculation group 2020 was awarded the DAAD Prize of FAU during the 280th FAU anniversary on 4 November 2023.
Academic achievements
Aisha Abdul Quddus excelled in all stages of her MAP studies (during the application period when being chosen as one of 30 students out of more than 690 candidates, during her studies and now at the end of her studies during her Master’s Thesis) despite its very challenging interdisciplinary curriculum and time frame. Based on her exceptional performance and academic background prior to joining the MAP programme, she was awarded the highly competitive MAP scholarship for the year 2020, which we grant exclusively to the most outstanding applicant of each year. In her year, Aisha was selected as the single scholarship holder from 690 applicants.
Social engagement
Aside from her excellent academic performance, Aisha Abdul Quddus has been socially involved in many ways, both outside and within the MAP program. One particular aspect that Aisha keenly focused on is the well-being and integration of international students. Firstly, she was part of the Pakistan Student Association Erlangen-Nürnberg chapter from October 2021 to September 2022 and was an active member of their event management team. There, she helped organize at least two events per semester such as a welcome event as well as cultural events. In addition, Aisha Abdul Quddus was the person of contact and acted as a buddy and organizer, particularly for female students arriving from Pakistan in need of help and support in their initial time upon arrival in Germany. Secondly, she has been a great support for all MAP students. She supported students of her class in any possible way to understand and adapt to the German culture and to find solutions for occurring challenges related to working and living in a new cultural environment. She always had an open ear for students starting in classes below her and found very appropriate ways for support and practical help as a senior student. In this way, Aisha Abdul Quddus became an important pillar in the community of our MAP students. Whenever the MAP Office staff needed support in welcoming, organization, or input, Aisha Abdul Quddus was consistently the first to express her eagerness and participation. Whether it was hosting a MAP alumni session or presenting the MAP best lecturer awards during the MAP Poster Session, Aisha Abdul Quddus always took the initiative. In this way, Aisha Abdul Quddus became a respected, important and trustworthy partner for the MAP Office, Chairs, and involved departments. In regular feedback conversations for students with the MAP leadership, Aisha Abdul Quddus always shared her precise thoughts in a respectful, yet honest way. This trait was one of the key enablers to help us as the MAP team to improve on our program structure and lectures.
Personality
With her proactive engagement, her friendliness, and her ability to take other persons seriously, Aisha Abdul Quddus has always made an outstanding impression not only on the students within and beyond MAP, but also on the members of her research teams (e.g. at CBI, Institute of Chemical Reaction Engineering, and Institute of Particle Technology), on the MAP lecturers and the MAP team. Aisha Abdul Quddus was eager to expand her skillset in research and worked on various topics in different research groups. To add to her international experience and skillset, she secured an excellent internship opportunity in the Department of Materials Research and Development at Agfa Geveart NV in Antwerp, Belgium. Here she demonstrated her excellent capacity at problem solving and management in a corporate environment.
From our personal conversations and experiences with Aisha Abdul Quddus, we attest that she is a very polite, humble, and sympathetic character. Her keen intellect allows her to quickly understand complex problems and provide creative solutions. She is a very determined student, who completes her assignments diligently and on time. If you are looking for an outstanding and highly motivated student for your awards, Aisha Abdul Quddus is an excellent choice.
The entire MAP team is delighted with Aisha Abdul Quddus on being selected by the commission to award the DAAD Prize at FAU. Congratulations, Aisha!