DAAD Prize 2023

Abdallah Abdelmonaem, a Master's student at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, has been awarded this year's DAAD Prize by TU Dortmund University. Every year, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) awards the prize for outstanding achievements by foreign students at German universities. As part of the "Come2Campus" welcome event for international students, Prof. Gerhard Schembecker, Vice-Rector of Finance, presented the prize to the student this fall for his outstanding commitment on campus and in the city.

"With the DAAD prize, we honor international students who, in addition to their academic qualities, stand out above all for their social responsibility. I am proud that TU Dortmund University can honor Abdallah Abdelmonaem for his numerous activities in this way," said Prof. Schembecker in his laudatory speech.

After completing his Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in Egypt, Abdallah Abdelmonaem moved to TU Dortmund University in the winter semester 2019/20 and initially studied on the English-language Master's degree course in Automation & Robotics at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. After a German course, which brought him up to C1 level, he switched to the Master's degree course in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently writing his Master's thesis at a company.

Commitment to cultural exchange

Abdalla Abdelmonaem deserves recognition not only for his excellent academic achievements: as a mentor and student advisor for international students, he helps fellow students to plan their studies and develop their own skills. In addition to his work on campus, Abdelmonaem has been supporting the Wohl-Tun e.V. project in Dortmund since the beginning of 2021, which provides low-threshold housing and homelessness services.

In his acceptance speech during the "Come2Campus" welcome event, at which Abdelmonaem acted as sponsor, he encouraged the new international students to broaden their perspectives: "Life at university is not just about academic education. It's also about personal development and community involvement. My experience in Germany has really changed me and broadened my horizons in ways I could never have imagined."

He concluded by emphasizing that this award is not only a recognition of his achievements, but also an appreciation of the supportive and inclusive environment that TU Dortmund University has offered him: "I am grateful to the university for providing me with a platform to flourish and for encouraging me to excel in both academic and social spheres."