Dr. Seid Nuru Ali, Ethiopia

In what ways have the DAAD scholarship and your doctoral degree impacted your career?

I received a quality education in Germany. In addition to the participatory and multidisciplinary teaching methods, the educational materials, which are rare back home, and the work ethic and discipline of German society, I was able to expand my understanding of development through the efficient institutions. 

Because of the quality education I received in Germany, the German work ethic and discipline I adopted, and the efficiency of its institutions, I have been promoted to major career steps and won the trust of the Ethiopian authorities. These are important values that I hold dear and strive to apply in my home country. 

When I presented research outcomes and analyses of the Ethiopian development process at international forums, people asked me where I was educated. I always received a nodding complement when I answered Germany.

What cooperation and development initiatives did you start or strengthen in your country or institution? 

I served as a senior research fellow for the Ethiopian Economic Association for about nine years. The association had a strong research collaboration with ZEF.

What would we lose if the DAAD EPOS scholarship were canceled? How would the Global South, North, and West be affected?

The first is humanitarian. In my view, being a true friend to the poor means creating sustainable capacity so they will not be poor again. If a society must maintain high standards of values and morals by doing the right thing, there is nothing more important than lending a helping hand to those in need. This means more than just distributing food handouts during times of crisis; it means building capacity so they can help themselves. 

2. The second is mutual well-being. In this era of globalization, migration to the West is inevitable. Supporting talented youth through programs like DAAD benefits both parties. First, scholarship recipients like me can contribute to our home countries. Second, if they choose to stay in Germany, they can contribute to the German economy, unlike illegal immigrants.

3. Global cooperation in this era of apparent lawlessness: Germany is in my heart, as well as in the hearts and minds of my family. We are truly ambassadors of Germany wherever we go. After all, I am a proud product of ZEF and DAAD—and, of course, Germany, a name that signifies quality! 

Just a week ago, my son, who experienced Germany in kindergarten and is now a second-year college student in the U.S., appeared on a video call with me wearing a German national team T-shirt. He told me that he was heading out to watch the game with his friends.  

I believe that most DAAD alumni are ambassadors of Germany. If so, canceling the DAAD program would cost Germany important social capital globally.