Kalybek Mukashev from Kyrgyzstan has been awarded this year's DAAD Prize at Ostfalia University. The prize, endowed with 1,000 euros, is awarded annually by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and presented by the universities. The award is intended to recognise the special academic and social achievements of international students in Germany.
Kalybek Mukashev followed his interest in urban studies and began his Bachelor's degree in Urban and Regional Management at the Salzgitter campus in the winter semester 2021/22. He had already learnt German at the J.W. Goethe-Gymnasium in Kyrgyzstan. However, integrating culturally and overcoming all the administrative hurdles presented the then 19-year-old with completely new challenges, as he remembers today. The initiative "Schools: Partners for the Future" (PASCH) supported him in this endeavour. And at the Salzgitter campus, he was lucky enough to be able to move into a shared flat with fellow German students, with whom he immediately made friends and who were a great help to him as he took his first steps in Germany.
He therefore advises foreign students: "Don't be afraid to ask for help. There are great support programmes at Ostfalia and your fellow students won't turn you away."
It turned out that the degree programme he had chosen exactly matched Kalybek Mukashev's interests and talents. Ostfalia professor Dr. Andreas Jain, who nominated the student for the DAAD prize, describes Kalybek Mukashev as the driving force behind a student project in cooperation with the city of Pattensen on the topic of sustainable allocation of commercial space.Jain is also particularly proud that his future graduate already has a job lined up at the renowned Academy for Spatial Development in the Leibniz Association (ARL). Following an internship, Kalybek Mukashev is now also working there as a research assistant. He is fully committed to the development of urban spaces and also sees his future in Germany.