The first stop was Spain, where two students presented their home region of Catalonia to their fellow travelers. The next destination was Germany, where a German student enrolled in an international Master's program presented the local "Fasnet" tradition from the northern Black Forest. After an interesting detour to Thailand it was time for the presentation of this year's DAAD prize.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) honored Bhagyashree Shailesh Dalvi's special social and societal commitment with the 1000 Euro award. The Indian student is currently enrolled in her third semester of the MBA International Business Consulting at the Faculty of Economics in Gengenbach, with great success. In her free time, she is involved in the student committee, supports her fellow students in their studies and helps new international students find accommodation in addition to her buddy activities. "And she is also very active outside the university", emphasized Grit Köhler, Vice-Rector for Studies and Teaching, in her laudatory speech. Bhagyashree Shailesh Dalvi is involved in the Schwarzwald Indo-German Association to create a welcoming community for Indians in the region in collaboration with the Indian Consulate. She is also a successful founder in the field of social and impact entrepreneurship and has worked in a strategic role in various start-ups in India and Germany to share her experience. She co-founded Pregamate, a platform to help expecting moms in India to bring about a sustainable change during pregnancy and to promote prenatal health. She is currently investigating whether and to what extent the app can also be transferred to the European market. During the COVID pandemic, she founded a mental health club for the mental health of students. She is inspired by her grandfather, Suresh Dalvi, and dreams of following his path. His kindness and dedication to helping others – he started an NGO for the elderly and visually impaired – have always been her biggest inspiration. "I feel very honored. My achievements are a result of the support from my parents, Swati and Shailesh Dalvi, and the guidance of my professors and course coordinator. I would like to use the DAAD award to deepen my skills in international consulting, combining my academic foundation and diverse experience to make a meaningful contribution in Germany", said Bhagyashree Shailesh Dalvi after the award ceremony.
The journey then continued to Mexico, Syria and Ethiopia. And more often than before, international Master's students and exchange students from Bachelor's degree programs presented their home countries together. At the end of the event an international buffet gave those present the opportunity to discover these countries through culinary delights. The evening also marked the farewell to Ulrike Nordau, the long-standing coordinator of the International Evening.