DAAD EPOS Alumni Meet 2025, New Delhi

What happens when you bring together scholars from India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, all of whom deeply care about sustainability and development? You witness committed discussions that don’t feel like seminars anymore, but shared expertise and cherished experiences.

Many of them were researchers, social entrepreneurs, and government officials, working on relevant issues in the vital areas such as renewable energy, Architecture and urban planning, water management and sanitation, agriculture, forestry and circular economy, remote sensing, and geoinformatics. Listening to how their DAAD experiences turned into meaningful and far-reaching impact gives us the rationale to support such expertise at their initial stages.

The first day’s highlight was an insightful session by experts from German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), who presented their portfolio and clusters on thematic areas ranging from renewable energy to climate change, sustainable urban and industrial development and social impact. The afternoon featured engaging sessions by representatives from Heidelberg University Office for South Asia and the University of Cologne, highlighting collaborative programs and research opportunities for the alumni present.

Day two centred on a dynamic peer-learning workshop. Alumni kicked off with a “Lightning Pitch,” sharing their Germany connection, home-country contributions, and ongoing DAAD engagement. They then collaborated in thematic groups on Sustainable Agriculture & Circular Economy, Water Management & Governance, and Urban & Regional Planning. Using interactive tools like white boards, flip charts and notes, participants co-created ideas, sparking vibrant discussions and interdisciplinary dialogue on sustainable development solutions.