IC-Newsletter - DAAD

DAAD Information Centre Johannesburg, edition 02 | 2013
newsletter
In this issue:
Farewell to Dr
Hermann
End of YoS
Richard
Wagner Award
DAAD-NRF
In-Country
Masters PPGG
Testimonial:
Daniel
Mckenzie
Useful links
Advert: MBA
Renewables
Like us on
Facebook &
follow us on
Twitter
Publisher:
Deutscher Akademischer
Austauschdienst e.V.
(DAAD)
Kennedyallee 50
D-53175 Bonn
Contact:
Tel: 011 717 9334
Email: daad@wits.ac.za
3151 Senate House
East Campus
Wits University
Consultation Hours:
Tue & Thur 10h00—12h00
Wed 14h00—15h00
Dr Ralf Hermann
bids farewell
Dear colleagues and friends
After more than five years, my
term as Head of the DAAD South
Africa office has ended.
I am grateful for the
opportunity to have lived and
worked in one of the most
beautiful countries of the world. I
enjoyed the numerous
friendly encounters with
academics, students and
university managers as well as
neighbours and unknown
people. I was greatly enriched by
the inspiring working
environment in the
international higher education and
research collaboration area as
well as by the vivid intellectual
sphere of my host university, Wits.
Coming from a country that
experienced many
fundamental changes in its
recent history, I perceived South
Africa’s hard-won freedom with
great respect and concord. I
shared a small portion of your long
road towards a transition that may
become a tangible reality in every
South African’s life, and I am
humbled by the dedication and
courage of those who unwaveringly
continue to pursue this goal.
In my work for my organization in
South Africa, I found the greatest
reward in the interaction with
those to whom, some years ago,
the DAAD’s support opened the
only chance for a future academic
career. I profoundly enjoyed the
complementary roles of my South African friends and
myself in building bridges between our countries and
cultures, and I look forward to dedicating myself to
partnership and exchange between Africa and Germany
in the future as well.
I will immediately take on my next responsibility in a
position with the recently formed foundation “Stiftung
Partnerschaft mit Afrika e.V.” (www.german-africanpartnership.org).
As a key player in implementing the
German Federal Africa Initiative, the foundation
pursues a grass-root approach to empowering civil
commitment in joint projects in Germany and African
partner countries. South Africa will remain a part of
my life, not only in fond memories, but also in my
future work.
I thank all of you for these memorable years, and all
those I trustfully worked with for your commitment,
your open-mindedness, and your welcoming sense
of togetherness beyond borders.
I particularly wish to express my deepest gratitude to
the young and dedicated team I was privileged to
work with in the DAAD office in Johannesburg.
My successor in this position, Philina Wittke, will be
in charge of the DAAD office from September 2013. I
am convinced that she will be received with the same
open and friendly spirit that I have
profoundly enjoyed in South Africa.
Ngiyabonga!

DAAD IC Johannesburg
newsletter
Close of the German-South African
Year of Science
The German-South African Year of Science ended after exactly 12 months
brimming with research initiatives and public events in both countries. The
event took place at the German Museum of Technology on 16 April in
Berlin.
The science year was closed by the German Federal Minister of Education
and Research, Prof Johanna Wanka and the South African Minister of
Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom. The success of the year has
strengthened the collaborations between South Africa and Germany and
reinforced the slogan of the year ‘Enhancing Science Partnerships for Innovation and Sustainable Development’.
Scientists from both countries were given an opportunity to view their work in an entertaining light through a ‘Science
Slam’ which was moderated by Dr Arnold van Zyl, Rector of Chemnitz University of Technology. The competition was won
by South African Alwyn Bester with his humorous presentation entitled “How to bake a car”.
The DAAD film “More than just scholarships” by Trio Media was also presented at the event. The film portrays DAAD
programmes in South Africa with special reference to the DAAD-NRF In-Country scholarship and the stories of the
scholarship holders who have received the award.
The DAAD South Africa completed its contribution to the German-South African Year of Science with its Research Lecture
Series on Energy Sciences. The total of 7 lectures saw internationally acclaimed researchers from leading institutes in
both Germany and South Africa present and discuss recent developments in energy technologies and policies.
The German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013 was a joint initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education
and Research (BMBF) and its South African counterpart, the Department of Science and Technology.
For more on the German-South African Science Year, please visit: www.germansouthafrican-scienceyear.co.za
To view the DAAD film “More than just scholarships” visit: https://vimeo.com/63673625
DAAD Alumnus Ammiel Bushakevitz wins
the Richard-Wagner Award
Ammiel Bushakevitz received the first Richard-Wagner Award for
upcoming young artists. The prize was conferred at a ceremonial act
in Leipzig on the occasion of the 200th Birthday of Richard Wagner.
Bushakevitz was born in 1986 in Jerusalem, but raised in South
Africa. After his studies at the University Pretoria, he received the
DAAD Scholarship for Artists and studied at the University of Music &
Theatre “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” in Leipzig and the Conservatoire
National supérieur de musique in Paris. He performs worldwide
as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. As a musicologist
he devotes his activities to Richard Wagner and Franz Schubert.
Photo: Stadt Leipzig/Jens Schlüter

DAAD IC Johannesburg
newsletter
DAAD-NRF IN-COUNTRY MASTERS AND DOCTORAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR 2014
The DAAD / NRF are pleased to announce the Joint In-Country Scholarship programme for Masters and PhD students
studying at South African universities in 2014.The programme is based on a partnership between DAAD and the NRF.
The In-Country Scholarship Programme offers a maximum of 100 new scholarship awards for Masters’ and Doctoral
candidates per annum.
The scholarships are designed for full-time two-year Master’s courses or three-year doctoral degree studies. Please Note:
The initial award is for one year only. For extensions of the award an annual progress report will have to be completed by
the applicant with input from the supervisor of the proposed research and submitted to the NRF via the university financial
aid/ postgraduate/ research office.
Scholarship values are as follows:
Master’s degree : ZAR 60,000.00 p.a.
PhD degree : ZAR 90,000.00 p.a.
Applicants must be South African citizens or hold permanent residence status in South Africa (in the latter case, both
certified proof of university employment and residency must be provided).
The application deadline is the 21 August 2013 for funding for 2014. Applicants must apply online at: https://
nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za and follow the application procedure set out in the call document. The call for applications can be
found through the link: www.nrf.ac.za/funding_overview.php?fid=190
For further information regarding the programme, please contact daad@wits.ac.za
For technical problems please contact the NRF Support desk: 08:00-13:00 and 13:30-16:30
Email: Supportdesk@nrf.ac.za
Masters Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance (PPGG)
This programme is designed to further qualify future leaders in politics, law, economics and administration according to the
principles of Good Governance and to prepare them in a praxis-oriented course for their professional life. The programme
offers very good graduates with a first university degree the chance to obtain a Master’s degree in disciplines that are of
special relevance for the social, political and economic development of their home country. With the knowledge and
experience acquired in Germany the scholarship holders should later contribute to the establishment of democratically
oriented economic and social systems aimed at overcoming social tensions. In addition, the training at German institutions
of higher education should especially qualify the scholarship holders as partners in political and economic cooperation with
Germany. With this programme, DAAD intends to contribute to the support of Good Governance and civil society
structures in selected partner countries and regions.
Very well qualified graduates with a first university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) who in the future want to actively
contribute to the social and economic development of their home countries may apply. The scholarships are offered both
for young graduates without professional experience and for mid-career professionals. The scholarships are for Master
courses at a German institution of higher education. The successful candidates will study on one of the selected Master
courses listed below. The courses have an international orientation and are taught in German and/or English.
DAAD pays a monthly scholarship rate of currently 750 €. The scholarship also includes contributions to health insurance
in Germany. In addition, DAAD grants an appropriate travel allowance as well as a study and research subsidy and in
applicable cases rent subsidies and / or family allowances. DAAD-scholarship holders are exempt from tuition fees.
For the full call for applications and the application form, email: daad@wits.ac.za
Application deadline: 31 July 2013 at DAAD South Africa (hard copy application).

DAAD IC Johannesburg
newsletter
A change of seasons: researching in Germany
I arrived expecting spring and received a heavy dose of winter. In fact, on the train ride to Bayreuth I could see snow on
the ground through the window. This was not what I prepared for! Going about one’s day when the temperature is
around zero was a novel experience for a South African such as myself, but fortunately it was not too long until spring
arrived. Watching trees gain more leaves by the day and seeing wild flowers in every patch of grass was another of the
many new experiences I have had in Germany. Arriving in a foreign country not knowing anyone can be quite difficult,
but with the support of the fantastic International Students Office at the University of Bayreuth I soon had my bank account
and cell phone sorted, had made friends (both German and other exchange students) and had learnt how to order
a beer in German.
From careful observation I have discovered that several
stereotypes about the Germans hold true. There is a
certain national fondness for beer, punctuality and wurst
that cannot be denied. It is not at all uncommon to see
students enjoying a casual beer on the lawns of the university
in the afternoon before (presumably) heading off
to lectures, and I discovered the hard way that if you
agree to meet a German at a restaurant at 7pm, and
you arrive at five past 7, you are late! As for the wurst,
well lets just say that every supermarket has a dedicated
wurst section, sometimes half an aisle! Such foibles
aside though, I have found Germans to be friendly,
helpful and welcoming, and always willing to speak
English when they realise you speak little German.
Daniel with other international students at the Bayreuth Volksfest
Arriving in Bayreuth speaking no German resulted in several difficult situations which in hindsight are amusing; such as
trying to describe to a hairdresser what I wanted her to do using only the international language of pointing and gesturing.
This did not go well and I had to wear a hat for the next week until it grew out a bit. German is not an easy language
to learn, especially for English speakers who are not used to distinguishing different genders of nouns, but it is not impossible.
Through a combination of a German course offered by my university, podcasts and a German copy of my favourite
comic (Asterix and Obelix) I have scraped together enough German to hold a basic conversation, order a meal or
ask for directions and I am learning more daily by talking to the German friends I have that are kind enough to talk with
me in German and correct my poor grammar.
“I think that every young
South African would
benefit from spending a
few months living in a
foreign country such as
Germany”
One of the great things about Germany is how easy it is to move about in it. Thus far I
have made weekend trips to Nuremburg, Bamberg and Berlin and am planning trips
to Munich and Prague. The trip that left the greatest impression was my weekend in
Berlin. It really is one of the most dynamic cities in the world and one weekend was
far too short to see it properly. The highlight for me was the Pergamon museum,
where German archeologists have reconstructed an ancient Greek temple from fragments
that they excavated. It is truly awe inspiring. And of course the Berlin nightlife
was not too bad.
Altogether coming to Bayreuth has been a great experience, and I am extremely grateful to DAAD for providing me with
this opportunity. I think that every young South African would benefit from spending a few months living in a foreign
country such as Germany; there are many things we can learn from the German way of life. I am also thankful to my
research group (or Lehrstuhl as they say in German) as they have gone out of their way to help me fit in. The standard of
academia here is very high, and through the courses and seminar that I am taking I have learnt a lot of exciting new
mathematics. Furthermore, with the help of my supervising Professor I have been able to conduct research here that I
could not have done in South Africa, and which will form a central part of my masters thesis.
* Daniel Mckenzie is a DAAD-NRF In-Country Scholarship holder. He received the short-term research grant available within
the programme to complete a research visit of 4 months at the University of Bayreuth. Daniel is completing his Masters in
Mathematics at the University of Cape Town.

DAAD IC Johannesburg
newsletter
Green economy offers large variety of job
opportunities
Useful Links
Higher education &
research in Germany:
www.daad.de
www.study-in.de
www.phdgermany.de
www.research-ingermany.de
MBA Renewables qualifies highly skilled professionals
to strengthen the sustainability
business. The next course starting in October
2013 is now open again for applications.
While more and more countries increase the share of renewable
energies in their total energy mix, they also face the challenge
of an always higher pressure to reduce costs of technologies
and applications. It is therefore more important for companies to
apply efficient management strategies and develop innovative business models. This leads to
an increased demand of highly qualified personnel with management skills and know-how of
renewable technologies. The sector offers excellent job opportunities not only for engineers, but
also for graduates of economics, law, political science, natural science and other disciplines.
MBA Renewables, the only Master of Business Administration with a focus on renewable
energies, which can be studied online, offers a broad mix of qualifications needed in
management of renewable energy companies. It focuses on passing on the German experience
to an international audience. MBA Renewables is directed towards international students. Since
its start in 2011, students from all five continents and 30 different countries have registered.
They study online and on a part-time basis alongside their jobs. To facilitate the exchange of
experiences beyond online forums and virtual group-work, part of the course is an on-campus
time of two weeks in Germany after the first study semester.
The study programme is offered by the Berlin based Beuth University of Applied Sciences in
cooperation with Renewables Academy (RENAC).
www.funding-guide.de
www.uni-assist.de
www.academics.de
www.bildungsserver.de
Language, culture and
life in Germany:
www.goethe.de/
johannesburg
Further information: www.mba-renewables.de
Contact:
Ms Silja Krösche
E-Mail: kroesche@beuth-hochschule.de
Tel: 0049-30-45045052
About RENAC:
RENAC is an international provider of education and training specializing in renewable energy
and energy efficiency. In addition to open and in-house training, RENAC offers numerous
services across the whole educational spectrum, such as the establishment of training centers,
train-the-trainer seminars and consulting.
About the Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin:
The Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin is a state college that offers over 70 accredited
bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering, life sciences and business management for
more than 10,000 students.
www.testdaf.de
www.dw-world.de
www.germanyandafrica.
diplo.de
Like us on Facebook!
DAAD South Africa is on Facebook! Simply search for DAAD South Africa, where
you can like our page and receive up to date information on the activities
of the DAAD in South Africa.
And now follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DAADSouthAfrica
ADVERT
This newsletter was compiled by the DAAD Information Centre Johannesburg. If you do not wish to receive future newsletters, please reply to this email and type UNSUBSCRIBE in
the subject line. To change and/ or update your contact details, please send an email to daad@wits.ac.za.