Information and consulting centre of the German service of academic exchanges (DAAD)

The Information and Consulting centre of the German Service of Academic Exchanges DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschienst) was opened in NSTU on 1 September 2001.

The history of this organisation dates back to January 1925 when the Service of Academic Exchanges was set up on a private initiative in Heidelberg, Germany. Thus, the basis of the present-day German Service of Academic Exchanges as a joint foundation and partial integration of German higher learning institutions and students' body was laid. The headquarters if the Service are still in Bonn. From 1959 to 1989, only 450 DAAD grants were awarded within the framework of academic exchanges between FRG and the USSR. Currently, more than three thousand Russian students and researchers go to Germany annually to study and do research within the DAAD programmes. On the other hand, about a thousand German students and researchers get grants to study in Russian universities and colleges and carry out research at the institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Taking into account the rate and volume of this exchange DAAD opened its representative office in Moscow in 1993.

Five years later, in 1998, Stefan Langer, a lecturer and co-ordinator of DAAD, came to NSTU to work as a teacher at the foreign languages department.

On 1 September 2001, the Information and Consulting Centre of the German Service of Academic Exchanges was opened in NSTU. It should be noted that 13 representative offices, 4 information offices and about 40 information and consulting centres of the German Service of Academic Exchanges function in the world. NSTU was chosen as a place for a DAAD centre due to its longstanding academic and research co-operation with higher schools of Germany as well as because of its favourable geographic position.

At present Dr Stefan Langer and Alexei Davidovich work in DAAD centre in NSTU.

The DAAD Information and Consulting Centre is designed to:

• provide recommendations and information support to applicants who wish to get DAAD grants to study in German universities and colleges;
• co-ordinate all DAAD programmes;
• how education in German higher learning institutions to the best advantage, which is one of the tasks set by the Federal Government of Germany.

As an example of the DAAD co-ordinating activity we can mention organising and promoting specialised language courses for teachers of German working in agricultural colleges.

It is difficult to overestimate the significance and prestige of DAAD grants. Suffice it to say that many former DAAD grant winners occupy important posts in economics and culture in different countries, for example, the minister of education of Rumania or Vice-Rector for International Relations of NSTU Prof. Eu. Tsoi. The achievements of grant winners are evidence of high efficiency of work of the Academic Exchange Service as well as high quality of German education in general.

The German Service of Academic Exchanges offers seven standard programmes to those who wish to continue their studies in Germany:

• one-year grants to young scientists in all fields of research;
• one-year grants to students learning economics;
• grunts offered by the Russian foundation of the German economy;
• short-term grants to young researchers;
• six-months' grants to students learning German philology;
• summer language courses in German universities
• financial support of foreign scientists invited to German universities to teach students.

Besides, new programmes are appearing. For example, German companies working in Russia have created the Russian foundation of German economics and on the initiative of the ambassador of the Federative Republic of Germany in Russia Dr Ernest Yorg von Shtudnits offer additional grants to young Russian economists, lawyers and sociologists. Within this programme launched in 1998 such famous companies as BOSCH, SIEMENS, DEUTSCHE BANK and others finance studies in Germany of 260 students.

Also, there are the following additional DAAD programmes available:

• repetitive invitations for former DAAD grants winners;
• SIEMENS programme for young engineers;
• observation visits;
• programmes for foreign lawyers;
• programme for Russian journalists organised jointly with Goethe Institute and Open Berlin University.

According to statistics 2,600 applications to get study grants in seven standard DAAD programmes were made in Russia last year but only every sixth applicant succeeded in obtaining the grant. As Dr Theodor Berhem, PhD, President of DAAD explains this happens because the number of applications made in the Russian Federation is much greater than DAAD financial resources can afford. Another reason is that the Russian side blocks many grant offers up with the aim to keep the most promising specialists in Russia.

The officials of the DAAD Information and Consulting Centre in NSTU provide information about grants, ways and possibilities to get them, render help in completing all the formalities necessary to obtain the grant as well as give information to those who want to study in Germany on their own account. Moreover, here in the Centre applicants can take an examination in German or English depending on the programme chosen.

According to statistical data, the percentage of successful applicants specialising in engineering disciplines and humanities is approximately the same, which destroys the myth that DAAD gives priority to students learning German philology.

As officials of the DAAD Information and Consulting Service say, NSTU students reveal great enthusiasm and interest in getting grants and thus the possibility to study in German universities and colleges. Last year in order to attract students' attention and stimulate their activity DAAD organised a presentation of German higher schools in NSTU where students from engineering faculties could see new prospects for their research work and possibilities to continue it.

Full details concerning the programmes offered as well as further information applicants may wish to obtain before completing the application form are available in the DAAD Information and Consulting Centre in NSTU, building 1, room 332. Working hours: Monday - Thursday 11.00 - 15.00.