DAAD History 1925-2025

Choose your desired decade and immerse yourself in the 100-year history of the DAAD.

2025
The DAAD celebrates its 100th anniversary.
© DAAD
2024
The DAAD launches the Campus Initiative for International Talents and Germany becomes the most important destination country for international researchers after the USA.
© DAAD / Stefan Zeitz
2023
The DAAD Centre for International Academic Cooperation (KIWi) is being expanded in order to better advise universities in crises and conflicts. A new programme supports research into green hydrogen.
© Laura Mendez Prencke
2022
The DAAD reacts quickly to the Russian attack on Ukraine and terminates its cooperation with Russian partner organisations while supporting Ukrainian university staff. The DAAD also publishes a climate and environmental balance sheet for the first time. A new DWIH opens in San Francisco and the London Branch Office is celebrating its 70th anniversary.
2021
Dr Kai Sicks becomes the new Secretary General of the DAAD. A new generation of Erasmus+ programmes is launched and funding for the Global Centres and the Konrad Zuse Schools of Excellence in AI begins.
© DAAD/Saenger
2020
Professor Dr Joybrato Mukherjee is elected DAAD President. In the midst of the pandemic, the DAAD launches the "International Mobility and Cooperation through Digitalisation" programme, which supports universities in the field of digital teaching and mobility and establishes new forms of exchange. With its Strategy 2025, the DAAD builds on international cooperation as the key to overcoming crises.
© Jonas Ratermann
2019
The DAAD Centre for International Academic Cooperation (KIWi) is founded on the recommendation of the German German Science and Humanities Council. Regional Offices are being set up in Bogotá and Amman. New programmes are designed to increase the mobility of first degree graduates, students with a migration background and student teachers.
© DAAD / Lukas Schramm
2018
To strengthen the German-American friendship and cooperation, the Helmut Schmidt Honorary Professorship is established at Johns Hopkins University. The DAAD receives the ISO 9001 certificate for its quality management.
2017
The DAAD takes over the management of the DWIH and opens a new Centre for German and European Studies in Porto Alegre.
© DAAD/Bruns
2016
In 2016, the DAAD initiates the "Welcome" and "Integra" programmes for the integration of refugees at German universities. Seven bilateral Research Training Groups are established to promote the Sustainable Development Goals.
© DAAD/ Nina Lemmens