Celebrating 100 Years of DAAD and 65 Years of DAAD in Egypt
The special anniversary event took place on September 14th, 2025 in Cairo and brought together distinguished guests from academia, government, and the German–Egyptian scientific community.
Since its establishment in 1925, DAAD has supported nearly three million students and researchers worldwide, fostering international academic cooperation and advancing knowledge exchange. In Egypt, the DAAD Regional Office has played a pivotal role since 1960, strengthening partnerships between German and Egyptian universities and institutions.
The celebration was inaugurated by Prof. Dr Joybrato Mukherjee, President of DAAD, Dr. Wiebke Bachmann, Director of the DAAD Regional Office Cairo, Mr. Andreas Fiedler, Chargé d’Affaires, and Prof. Dr. Hosam Othman, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. In their remarks, they highlighted the longstanding and successful collaboration between Germany and Egypt in higher education, research, and innovation.
The evening also featured keynote addresses from two distinguished DAAD alumni. And H.E. Minister Prof. Dr. Hany Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, who earned his doctorate from RWTH Aachen University, emphasized the significant role that German–Egyptian academic cooperation has played in strengthening institutional capacity and empowering skilled professionals in Egypt. Prof. Dr. Ashraf Mansour, founder of the German University in Cairo (GUC) and the German International University (GIU), reflected on the profound impact of DAAD on his personal and professional journey, which inspired him to establish two of the largest German transnational education initiatives.
A highlight of the evening was a special musical performance by internationally renowned opera singer Gala El Hadidi, an alumna of German schools in Egypt, who traveled to Cairo especially for the occasion. Accompanied by pianist Greig Martin, she captivated the audience with a selection of her most celebrated pieces.
The evening concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Fatma Soliman, Deputy Director of the DAAD Regional Office. The panel brought together representatives from politics and academia who discussed several ongoing German–Egyptian cooperation projects that began at the grassroots level. This bottom-up approach has helped ensure the sustainability of the partnership over the past 65 years.
Prof. Dr. Salma Yousry, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation, and Prof. Dr. Hany Helal, Former Minister of Higher Education, highlighted the strong support of the ministry for these initiatives. Prof. Dr. Hosam Refai, Vice-President of Helwan University, and Prof. Dr. Nadine Sika from the American University in Cairo also emphasized the importance of capacity building and mutual knowledge exchange in the German–Egyptian study programs they have helped establish and lead.
The evening celebrated not only the rich legacy of DAAD but also the enduring strength of German–Egyptian cooperation in education, research, and innovation. With decades of successful collaboration behind it, the partnership continues to pave the way for new opportunities and shared achievements in the years to come.
Curious to learn more about the DAAD’s history and its mission of “Change by Exchange”? Check out this link.
