DAAD Prize for Aleksei Ratnikov

This year's DAAD Prize from the German Sport University Cologne went to master's student Aleksei Ratnikov. It was presented to him by Julia Quirll da Matta, DAAD Head of External Communications, at the traditional welcome ceremony for international students at Cologne City Hall on October 10, 2025.

Aleksei Ratnikov, who comes originally from Russia, first completed a bachelor's degree at the German Sport University Cologne and is now studying for a master's degree in the M.Sc. Performance, Training, and Coaching in Elite Sport. His many years of exceptional social commitment, coupled with excellent academic performance, were the reasons for his selection for the prize. As a tutor, he takes excellent care of international students in particular and also helps them with questions and problems that go far beyond the topic of housing. At events organized by the International Office or other departments of the university, he acts as a liaison between the university and the student body and is always on hand with great intercultural sensitivity when help is needed. During the prize ceremony, he recommended that new international students take advantage of the counseling and support services offered by their universities in order to make the most of their stay.

With 140,000 scholarship holders per year, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the world's largest funding organization for the international exchange of students and scholars. As a joint institution of German universities, it promotes the internationalization of the academic system through scholarships, partnership programs, and the internationalization of universities. The DAAD Prize, endowed with €1,000 per university, is awarded annually by German universities.