TUM student Nadine Abdelmalek receives DAAD Prize 2025

“Our internationality is both an asset and a responsibility”

One of these students is Nadine Abdelmalek. She came to TUM in 2022 to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. The targeted and efficient use of energy is not only a key topic in her curriculum – it also defines her approach to volunteering: as a DAAD mentor for German schools abroad, as a member of the German Model United Nations Association, and above all, through her work with TUM’s Student Representation.

As head of the Event Technology Department, she is responsible for planning and executing around 40 events each year, including major student festivals such as TUNIX and GARNIX, as well as the “Lange Nacht der Universitäten.” For the entire TUM community, these events are highlights of the academic year. And it’s this community that motivates Nadine most:
“We’re a team of about 30 people, and during the intense phases leading up to an event, you really see how closely we work together and how proud we can be of what we achieve.”

Of course, as an electrical engineer, she also enjoys the technical side of event management. Her studies and volunteer work complement each other perfectly: “It certainly helps to know how electricity flows, how voltage works – and how much load a circuit can handle before the fuse blows.”

Nadine Abdelmalek was already active in the technology club at school – the German School in Cairo, where she earned her German International Abitur. Her family’s strong ties to German education are no coincidence: her grandfather earned his doctorate in Aachen decades ago. “He was fascinated by Germany’s educational values and laid the foundation for our enthusiasm,” says Nadine’s mother, who also attended the German School. She came all they way from Cairo to attend the award ceremony. And of course, Nadine’s sister, who has been living in Germany for seven years, was also present.

Such intellectual and cultural exchange is vital not only for universities but for society as a whole, stresses Gerhard Müller, TUM’s Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs: “I consider it a privilege and enrichment that we can learn from each other so effortlessly. Our internationality is both an asset and a responsibility we must embrace.” Nadine Abdelmalek is a shining example of how this can succeed.

In just a few weeks, she will submit her Bachelor’s thesis. And there’s no doubt she’ll keep the energy flowing – both in her volunteer work and in her Master’s studies, where she plans to specialize in energy and high-voltage technology.