IC Singapore - Newsletter 1/2009

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1 IC Singapore - Newsletter 1/2009 March 15, 2009 Upcoming Events: Discover Germany Land of Ideas Meet Singapore s DAAD Scholarship Recipients 2009 German University Summer Courses 2009 Singapore s German Alumni Where are they now? Interview with Heidelberg alumnus Terrence Hong DLR-DAAD Research Fellowships - Deadline 30 April 2009 A*STAR Doktoranten Stipendien für deutsche Bewerber (SINGA) IC Singapore publishes new information brochure 1 Upcoming Events Discover Germany: Land of Ideas Wednesday, 1 April am 5pm NTU Campus Canopy K, outside LT1A Looking for information on study & research opportunities in Germany? Would you like some hands-on advice from a DAAD scholarship holder? Keen to work for a German company? How about learning basic German in your lunch break? Then join us at this fun-filled and information-packed one-day event on NTU campus! Directions, a full programme and detailed information on how to register for the information sessions is available at: 1

National University of Singapore. Congratulations! To read an interview with the three scholarship recipients please visit our website at: http://www.ic.daad.

2 2 Meet Singapore s DAAD Scholarship Recipients 2009 Three Singaporean students and researchers have been awarded a DAAD scholarship. The award winners are Mr Leow Yoon Hwee (right) of Nanyang Technological University, Ms Chen Yiquan (centre) currently studying at the University of New South Wales, and Dr Lim Jay Na (left) of the National University of Singapore. Congratulations! To read an interview with the three scholarship recipients please visit our website at: Keen to conduct your research in Germany too? Visit our website to find out about scholarship opportunities: 3 German University Summer Courses 2009 Are you interested in taking part in some of the best international summer schools with students from all over the world? Look no further! In the DAAD s database Summer Schools in Germany 2009 you can explore the wideranging opportunities that German universities offer. Most of these one to four week courses take place during the university summer break (July to September). However, some courses are also offered during the winter months. The range of available courses is enormous. Besides giving you access to the latest research in your chosen field an exciting social programme ensures that students also get to know the country and its people. To search the database please visit: 4 Singapore s German Alumni Where are they now? Meet Heidelberg Alumnus Terrence Hong Terrence Hong is a Graduate of the European Studies Programme at the National University Singapore. He spent two semesters studying at the University of Heidelberg. Hallo Terrence. Wie geht s? Tell us, why did you decide to go on an exchange programme in Germany? I have always liked the poem The road not taken" by Robert Frost in which he explained how his decision to take the path less trodden had made all the difference to his life. Robert Frost s message was definitely not far from my mind when I chose Germany as a student exchange destination and I dare say I have been greatly enriched by the experience. I found the language barrier to be an exciting challenge and I was spurred on by the fact that Germany at that time was still a relatively unknown country to Singaporeans. 2

Tell us about your exchange programme. Was it difficult to get everything organized?

Looking back, I am still quite amazed at how simple it was for me to get everything organized.

own did have the advantage of allowing me to understand the system a little better. How did you experience life as a student in Germany?

3 Tell us about your exchange programme. Was it difficult to get everything organized? As a European Studies student with a minor in German language, I had to spend my final 2 semesters at a university in Germany. Looking back, I am still quite amazed at how simple it was for me to get everything organized. The paper work I had encountered in Germany at the host university and with the local bureaucracy in the initial stages did prove to be daunting but I took it in my stride - Doing everything on my own did have the advantage of allowing me to understand the system a little better. How did you experience life as a student in Germany? To have the opportunity to study in the oldest university in Germany Heidelberg - was something quite special. My best memories were attending class in a medieval tower and having my meals in the Mensa which was formerly the armory of the local Prince Elector. (Now that s a good story to tell one s children!) The fact that Heidelberg had played hosts to so many great scholars and scientists made the place so much more conducive for learning. I can t recall another occasion where I would leave each lecture feeling so invigorated and inspired. My mind never felt more alive and so eager to learn than the time I was in Germany. Besides studying, how did you spend your time in Germany? My interest in German culture comes from my love of cars and architecture. Bauhaus architecture and German automobile design have fascinated me since I was a teenager in junior college. It was fantastic that I was now in the very country where I could see what I had previously read about in books. I spent every weekend exploring different towns and cities in Germany. I had read so much of the legendary night life which Berlin had on offer and was glad that I was finally able to experience it firsthand. But what I really enjoyed was the laid back lifestyle and the countryside. It was only in Germany that I learned to take things easy and appreciate the beauty of nature. I got into the habit of taking walks in the country and having picnics in forests and lakeshores. Till now, these simple activities which I had experienced remain my most precious memories. How has your experience in Germany changed you? I think the time spent as a student in Germany can be summed up as what Wagner would call a Gesamtkunstwerk. The multi-cultural learning environment at university was something different for me at that time and through interacting with various nationalities, I sharpened my socializing skills and this has benefitted me greatly in my course of work which involves having to interact with people from all over the world! I learned from my lecturers to always think out of the box and to see things from all angles- even from the most unlikely ones. The free flowing intellectual banter which were frequent in the classes I attended were not only stimulating but taught me to break my inhibitions to speak up and share my thoughts. From this, I have become more outspoken and less of an armchair critic. From the Germans I learnt that if one were passionate enough about an issue, one should take up the cause and try to win others over instead of just passively waiting for someone else to do it. I have applied this to many things I do in life and I dare say that I have been able to effect major change. Which advise would you give to other students who are considering an exchange programme in Germany To those who are even remotely thinking of going to Germany to study, I say jump now". My time spent in Germany was one of the most productive and exciting periods of my life and I shall always fondly look back to this 3

4 period of my life. The ties of friendship which I have established with my friends in Germany have continued to this day The Student Exchange coordinator at my host university once remarked that Alles ist möglich in Deutschland. If you were to study in Germany with an open mind, you, too, will also come to see that there is a lot of truth in this statement. For me, the experience was life-changing. NTU, SMU and NUS offer a great variety of exchange programmes with many German universities. For information, please do get in touch with the International Office at your home university. 5 DLR-DAAD Research Fellowships in the Field of Space, Aeronautics, Energy and Transportation Research Deadline 30 April 2009 DLR DAAD Research Fellowships is a new programme implemented by the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). DLR is Germany s national research centre for aeronautics and space. Its extensive research and development work in Aeronautics, Space, Transportation and Energy is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures. This special programme is intended for highly-qualified foreign doctoral and postdoctoral students as well as senior scientists. DLR-DAAD Fellowships offer outstanding scientists and researchers the opportunity to conduct special research at the institutes of the DLR in Germany. The following new calls have been published: Development of Colloidal Spraying and Spray Pyrolysis to Fabricate Nanostructured Functional Layers in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (Post Doc) High-Speed Optical Free-Space Communications (Doctoral Fellow) Adaptive Optics for Free Space Optical Communications (Post Doc) Optical Communications Technology for Space Exploration Missions (Doctoral Fellow) Slotted Multi-access and the Aloha System (Doctoral Fellow) All current offers are published under DLR-DAAD Fellowships - Current Offers on the homepages of the DAAD and the DLR. APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 30 APRIL A*STAR Doktoranten Stipendien für deutsche Bewerber (SINGA) Das SINGA Programm der Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) richtet sich an internationale Studenten, die in Singapur einen PhD erlangen möchten. Stipendiaten haben die Möglichkeit an der Nanyang Technological University (NTU), der National University of Singapore (NUS) oder in einem der A*STAR Forschungsinstitute zu forschen. Arbeits- bzw. Unterrichtssprache ist Englisch. Nach erfolgreichem Studium wird der Doktortitel von der NTU oder der NUS verliehen. Das Stipendienangebot richtet sich an Bewerber in den folgenden Fachrichtungen: Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering. Bewerbungen von deutschen Hochschulabsolventen sind ausdrücklich erwünscht. Nähere Informationen sind auf der folgenden Webseite erhältlich: 4

7 New Information Brochure on Study & Research in Germany The IC Singapore has published a new information brochure on study and research in Germany.

5 7 New Information Brochure on Study & Research in Germany The IC Singapore has published a new information brochure on study and research in Germany. Also available are information brochures on the following subjects: International Bachelor Programmes in Germany 2008/09 International Master Programmes in Germany 2008/09 International PhD Programmes in Germany 2008/09 Summer courses in Germany 2009 The Excellence Initiative (Research) Research Institutions & Opportunities in Germany To obtain free copies please visit the Information Centre during our office hours or send us an at: daad@singapore.goethe.org DAAD Information Center Singapore, c/o Goethe-Institut 163 Penang Rd, #05-01, Winsland House II Singapore (near Somerset MRT station) Consultation hours: Tuesday / Thursday / Friday 3pm - 6pm Wednesday 10am 12noon & 4pm - 6pm Dr Susanne Rentzow-Vasu 5

DAAD Ghana Newsletter, 25 th September 2009

DAAD Ghana Newsletter, 25 th September 2009 Today s topics: DAAD PROGRAMMES (1) DAAD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMMES APPLICATION IN PROGRESS UNTIL 15 TH OCT. 2009 (2) NEW REGULATIONS FOR THE SPONSORED STUDY VISIT