A Night to Cherish Forever: FAU Awards 2024

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It was sometime in the middle of June 2024 when I received an email from our MA Human Rights Programme Coordinator, Ms. Ines, stating that there was a scholarship opportunity available for students in our program. FAU President’s Welcome Award. The email also included a link to the scholarship website. 

Little did I know then that exactly seven months later, my profile would be featured on that same website as a scholarship recipient. 

With a leap of faith and my fingers crossed, I submitted my application to the President’s Welcome Award (PWA) team. I vividly remember July 8, 2024—a day that started as a typically busy day at work. At 11:37 AM, I received an email notification, but I couldn’t check it right away. 

For days leading up to that moment, I had been thinking about the potential outcome of my scholarship application. That evening, after leaving work and settling in at home, I finally opened my email. The first email was from the PWA team. 

For a brief moment, I hesitated. I couldn’t bring myself to open it immediately. But when I did and read the line, “We are happy to inform you that you have been accepted for the scholarship of the President’s Welcome Award,” my heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t believe it—I had been awarded the scholarship! 

However, the journey was not without its challenges. Due to the political unrest in my home country, Bangladesh, there was a moment when it felt like I might not be able to join the program on time, or even at all. But as the situation improved, I managed to make it to Germany before September, just in time to begin this life-changing chapter. 

Fast forward to October 17, 2024: I found myself sitting among some of the brightest minds at FAU, being celebrated at the FAU Awards Ceremony. It was an evening of immense pride and gratitude. 

One of the highlights of the event was the moment when the recipients of the President’s Welcome Award for the 2024-25 academic year were called on stage. We received our award letters from Dr. Joachim Hornegger, the President of Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg himself. As I stood there, holding my award letter, everything just felt surreal. 

The President’s Welcome Award is not just a scholarship; it’s an incredible opportunity for personal and professional growth. The award includes one year of “carefree living” in the new apartment complex “The Brucklyn“ in Erlangen. Moreover, FAU takes care of enrolment fees for two semesters, a free German language course. In addition, FAU’s president Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger welcomes the candidates and share advice and guidance regarding their research journey.

Guided by the M.A. Human Rights and the Research Centre CHREN, the program also aims at offering at least one free workshop that can contribute to the young researchers’ scientific growth, e.g. a course on scientific communication. This Scholarship opens doors to a wealth of resources and networks at FAU. It is designed to empower international students and help them integrate into the academic and cultural environment of FAU. 

Looking back on that night, my heart was brimming with gratitude. This scholarship is a testament to the trust FAU places in its students, and it has given me the motivation to strive for excellence, not just academically but also in contributing to the global cause of human rights.  


https://www.dies.fau.de/verleihung-des-presidents-welcome-award-2024/

https://www.fau.eu/presidents-welcome-award/


Some glimpse of the FAU Awards 2024: 



The President's Welcome Award recipients for the 2024-25 academic year 




Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger, President of Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg





I had no idea that my Professor Dr. Hyun Jung LEE (Grace) was also there that night as an Award Recipient.  After the awards, she came to us (the MA Human Rights Students) and introduced herself. 









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