Wei Zhao receives DAAD prize for international students Outstanding achievements and great commitment honoured

For her outstanding academic achievements and remarkable social dedication to the international student community, Wei Zhao from China was honoured with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) award as the best international student at TU Braunschweig in 2024.

TU President Angela Ittel and Professor Andreas Dietzel presented Wei Zhao (centre) with the award during the student conference on the topic of ‘Internationalisation of Higher Education’. Picture credits: Annette Dölger/TU Braunschweig.

Zhao started her academic career at the Shaanxi University of Science and Technology in China, where she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. While studying, she already gained her first experience abroad by participating in a summer school at Freie Universität Berlin and learned about Germany as a potential study destination. “The positive atmosphere on campus and the friendliness of everyone there surprised me at the time”, she says looking back. “During the summer school, I decided to spend part of my academic career in Germany.” The excellent reputation of German engineering education was another decisive factor: “Studying in Germany stands for high quality and a strong practical orientation. In addition, automotive production has a long tradition here. All of these factors played a role for me.”, explains Zhao.

From Shaanxi via Berlin to Braunschweig

From Shaanxi to Braunschweig: Wei Zhao immediately felt at home in the Lion City on her first visit. Picture credits: Simone Fürst/TU Braunschweig

She put her decision into practice in 2019: Zhao moved to Berlin and quickly learned German up to the C1 level. She used her free time to explore Germany, including a weekend trip to Braunschweig. “The atmosphere in Braunschweig is very different to Berlin. Everything is a little smaller, but also more charming. The many lion statues and the Rizzi house left a lasting impression on me back then.”, she recalls. But she was particularly impressed by the people in Braunschweig with their open and helpful behaviour: “When I wanted to get back to the main station at night, there were no more trams. So, I was standing at the stop at the town hall, very lost, when an elderly woman approached me and offered me a lift to the station. That was the moment Braunschweig won my heart.”, Zhao laughs. When soon after she had to decide where she would complete her Master’s degree, the choice was quickly made. “TU Braunschweig is a TU9 University, so I was already familiar with it”, says Zhao. “Its location in a region with many research institutions and big resident companies was also a decisive factor.”

Challenging situation at the start of her studies

Shortly after, she began her Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at TU Braunschweig in the winter semester 2020/2021. She was soon confronted with the challenges of the corona lockdown, which meant that all courses had to be offered online. “TU Braunschweig reacted very quickly to the developments. I remember that positively”, says Zhao. “The isolation and the worries about my family and friends in China had a negative impact on my mental health.” A workshop on mental health organised by the International House helped the award winner deal with the situation better. “Following that, I signed up for an online language course and online sports programmes at the university. This helped me a lot to socialise despite the restrictions”, she reports.

The support from the Association of Chinese Students and Scientists was important for Zhao, too – especially during her first few weeks in Braunschweig: “The student association helped me enormously. Not only did I make valuable contacts, but I also learned a lot about German culture.” She wanted to pass on these positive experiences to other students, and has since been an active member of the association herself. In addition to supporting new students, her responsibilities also include the organisation of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

A new goal: a doctorate at TU Braunschweig

In addition to personal commitment, academic achievements play a major role in awarding the DAAD prize for international students. Zhao impressed with her Master’s thesis on the subject of microfluids, which was awarded a 1.0 by her supervisor Professor Andreas Dietzel. “This grade is very rarely awarded at the Institute of Microtechnology”, emphasises Dietzel. “I already got to know Ms Zhao as a student assistant. With her great eagerness to learn and her open and friendly manner, she quickly became a valued colleague at our institute. We are all the more delighted that Ms Zhao has accepted a doctoral position with us after completing her studies. Her personality and valuable international perspective will continue to enrich our team.”, he adds.

For the young scientist, the award is a great motivation to continue pursuing her academic goals. Picture credits: Simone Fürst/TU Braunschweig

Since June 2024, Zhao has been pursuing the next goal of her academic career – a doctorate at the Institute of Microtechnology. Still, there is time to look back: “I am very grateful for the award and for the people who have supported me along the way. I would especially like to thank Professor Andreas Dietzel, Professor Iordania Constantinou, and the staff at the Institute of Microtechnology, because the good results of my work would not have been possible without their help and support. The award is a great recognition of my efforts and motivates me to continue to do my best.”, says Wei Zhao about the DAAD prize. “My tip to other international students is to go out and not just sit at home in front of your laptop. Make contacts and take advantage of what your university has to offer – this will also help you with your studies.”, she adds.

The award ceremony took place as part of the 5th DAAD Student Conference on the Internationalisation of Higher Education at TU Braunschweig. At the award ceremony, TU President Angela Ittel emphasised: “The awarding of the prize recognises the commitment with which many of our international students contribute to our community and enrich it as a result. TU Braunschweig wants to offer people from all over the world the best possible opportunities to develop their talents and personalities. Wei Zhao’s life is an outstanding example of what can be achieved with a little courage and a lot of commitment. We are proud to further accompany her on her journey.”