Bestowal of the DAAD Prize 2018

DAAD Prizewinner 2018, Sara Qarqash at the Institute of Anatomy - Photo: Till Junker
DAAD Prizewinner 2018, Sara Qarqash at the Institute of Anatomy - Photo: Till Junker

Sara Qarqash was born in Syria and lived there until she was 16. She fled with her family to Jordan in 2012 due to the ongoing war in her home country. The student came to Greifswald in 2015. She had previously taken part in a ten-month German course at the Goethe Institute in Jordan’s capital, Amman. Sara is currently studying her third subject-semester of Human Medicine in Greifswald. She gained the required prerequisites by successfully completing a preparatory course at the Studienkolleg. This gave her the chance to further extend her excellent German language skills. The Studienkolleg (Preparatory Courses) made it possible for Sara Qarqash to attain her goals and looked after her well.

Due to her excellent study achievements, Sara Qarqash also works as a tutor in the preparation course in anatomy. Here, she helps students in the first and second subject semesters with preparations. Sara also works as a care support worker at the University Hospital in order to gain experience at the hospital. Here, she looks after patients. ‘For example, I help patients with dementia during their daily wash. The job gives me a good insight into work at the hospital and provides me with the opportunity to establish bonds with patients, I think that’s important.’ Furthermore, during her first year of study, she also translated and interpreted for refugees at the Jobcenter and at the University Hospital.

Sara is very open towards and interested in other people and languages. For example, she spent Christmas and New Year 2015 with a family in Greifswald. The young medicine student got to know the family on facebook, which welcomed her with open arms. A close relationship has since developed, the student now visits the family once a week. ‘We go to the beach in summer and have already been on holiday together in Ireland. As my own family is so far away, it is a comforting feeling to have people who care nearby. I am so grateful to the family for their kindness,’ she says. In addition to her native language, Arabic, Sara Qarqash also speaks English and German.

The prize will be awarded at the Winter Ball on the 19/01/2019 at the Kulturbahnhof Greifswald. The annual event is organised by the International Office and the Local Erasmus Initiative. It is the official winter semester party for international students and students in Greifswald who are interested in all things international.

Tickets for the Winter Ball can be purchased now at the International Office, Domstraße 8. Students pay € 15, staff members € 20.


Further Information

The prize has been awarded by the DAAD for more than 10 years. It aims to underline the enrichment that international students can bring to the university community and helps give them a face.

The photo can be downloaded and used for free for editorial purposes in combination with this press release. The author of the images must be named. Download


Contact at the University of Greifswald

International Office
Domstraße 8, 17489 Greifswald
Tel.: +49 3834 420 1335
international.officeuni-greifswaldde

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