PhD Research Proposal writing workshop 2019 – Sri Lanka
Since it was founded in 1925, around two million scholars in Germany and abroad have received German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) funding. Its activities go far beyond simply awarding grants and scholarships. The DAAD supports the internationalization of German universities, promotes German studies and the German language abroad, assists developing countries in establishing effective universities and advises decision makers on matters of cultural, education and development policy.
German’s combination of high-quality education with near-zero tuition fees makes it a very attractive destination for many international students, particularly due to a growing number of English-taught programs. To cater to the rising demand for information about study and research in Germany, DAAD has set up an Information Center in Colombo.
DAAD Colombo offers country-specific information on scholarship programs for study, teaching and research stays, university projects and academic collaborations. The most recent event being the PhD Research Proposal Writing Workshop that was held on August 23, 2019 at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. Thirty candidates out of a staggering three hundred and fifty applicants were shortlisted to attend this highly sought after workshop. Moreover, the renowned resource persons, Dr. Arvind Pattamatta, a Professor of the department of Mechanical Engineering from IIT Madras and Mr. Johannes Wenzel (DAAD) conducted the workshop in a professional yet enjoyable manner. Consequently enabling PhD aspirants to refine their proposal writing skills and to express themselves in a more eloquent manner.
Dr. Arvind Pattamatta further explained that German higher education institutions hosted a total of 374,583 international students in 2018, which resulted in a 4% increase when compared with the previous year as per the new statistics released by DAAD. This means the country has surpassed the target set by DAAD and the Joint Scientific Conference of the federal government and states (Gemeinsame Wissenschaftskonferenz) for the year 2020.
Addressing the statistics, DAAD President Prof. Margret Wintermantel said the numbers highlight how well Germany is positioned in the race to attract top international students. “There is currently a tough global competition for the brightest minds. All major educational and research locations around the world are trying to attract as many well-qualified young people as possible. The numbers show that German is well positioned here. Education from Germany has an excellent international reputation, and our colleges have a strong appeal for students from all over the world” She says.
Claudia Tietze, the Cultural Head of the German Embassy, stated that while learning the German language isn’t essential to complete your higher studies, students with lower German proficiency report integration problems. That being said, Germany promotes an inclusive environment with a fusion of many cultures, thus international students feel more at ease and the transition is made easier.
Dr. Janaka Wijesundara, the DAAD Research Ambassador, expressed similar sentiments, adding that Germany fosters an excellent research environment, along with a broad range of international study programs as well as a welcoming culture.
Padma Chandramouli and Johannes Wenzel, the resource personnel from DAAD Chennai, having collaborated with DAAD Colombo over the years and nurturing a close relationship, commented on the increasing rate of activities and events held in Sri Lanka and declared the PhD Research Proposal Writing workshop a success.
Finally, Mr. Nadeesha Palliyaguru, the representative of DAAD Colombo, further elaborated on the various scholarship programmes offered by DAAD and specifically drew attention to the Masters and PhD courses. Lastly, He quoted the DAAD motto: ‘Change by exchange’, thus emphasizing that exchange promotes understanding between countries and individuals and helps secure the peace. As a result, bilateral cooperation will contribute to the overall political and social progress of one’s country.
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German News Service
