At a virtual handover ceremony, Prof. Dr. Julia Kormann, Vice President for Teaching, and Prof. Dr. Elmar Steurer, also Vice President from 2022, awarded Jiao Hu the prize of the German Academic Exchange Service.
Prof. Kormann congratulated the award winner and said in her speech: "The DAAD award is something special for Neu-Ulm University because it reflects the supporting pillars of our educational mission and because it is representative of what drives the university in its actions in the areas of research, teaching and transfer. You, Ms Hu, have shown in your actions and work at Neu-Ulm University and beyond that you see international experience as an opportunity to master the challenges of the future together globally. It is our pleasure and honour to award you the DAAD Prize 2021 here and now." Prof. Steurer also congratulated the student and praised Jiao Hu as one of the best students he had ever experienced at HNU. In particular, he highlighted her inquisitiveness as well as her excellent participation in virtual lectures.
Scholarships, honorary posts, professional experience: Jiao Hu's impressive CV
Jiao Hu, who has already completed a bachelor's degree in English literature and linguistics in her home country of China, has been studying business administration at Neu-Ulm University since the winter semester of 2018. The student already received numerous awards and scholarships in China. Among other things, she was one of the ten best graduates of her year across all subjects. In addition to her top academic achievements, Hu volunteered in China as an interpreter at sporting competitions, taekwondo coach, chairperson of the student sports association, organiser of a summer school and as a semester speaker. At Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences, she contributed as a buddy for international exchange students (mentor). In addition to these voluntary activities, Jiao Hu already has professional experience as a working student at PricewaterhouseCoopers, as an intern at Bosch and as a student assistant at HNU in the library and in the university's Innovation Space. She also worked as a tutor for transport and logistics.
Jiao Hu said at the award ceremony: "It is a great honour for me to be awarded the DAAD Prize. For me, the prize is not only an award for my achievements so far. It is an incentive for me to continue to do my best and work for better cultural understanding in the future. I would like to thank everyone who made this day possible. Thanks to all the professors who always patiently answered my many questions. Also thanks to my friends who made it possible for me to settle in a foreign country. Last but not least, I would like to thank my family who always expressed their support from afar."
