On the occasion of the "International University Day" on October 8, 2025, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences awarded the DAAD Prize 2025 to Halyna Huzenko, a student in the Department of Computer Science and Languages. With the award, which is endowed with 1,000 euros, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) recognizes international students at German universities who have distinguished themselves through outstanding academic achievements and special social or intercultural commitment.
Halyna Huzenko originally began her studies in the field of cybersecurity at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute in Ukraine. When war broke out, she fled to Germany and found a new academic path at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. "In the midst of the uncertainty of the war, studying at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences seemed to me to be a stabilizing factor and became my mental retreat," she reports. The university accepted numerous Ukrainian students and offered them new perspectives with a Bridging Semester (certificate program). This was a decisive step for Huzenko: she decided to enrol on the Applied Computer Science bachelor's degree program, continuing her passion for programming and technology.
Alongside her studies, she got involved in a variety of ways. For example, she organized German crime thriller evenings to improve her language skills together with fellow students. In recent months, she has also worked as a student assistant on the "Professorinnenprogramm 2030" project, which examines issues of gender equality in professorships. She also found the opportunity to return to an old hobby at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences: singing. "Returning to this long-forgotten hobby helped me to deal with stress and regain some self-confidence," says Huzenko.
The fact that she was awarded the DAAD prize came as a surprise to her: "I actually didn't expect it. For me, it means that I have chosen the right path and it is proof that I am capable of something. It gives me inspiration and confidence that I will also be successful in the future. I also think it can encourage other students who have fled war or other difficult situations."
Halyna Huzenko sees her future in the field of cybersecurity: she is already enrolled in the Cybersecurity Master's program at Saarland University. "I believe that I can deepen my knowledge there and become the specialist of my dreams. And who knows, maybe fate will lead me back to Anhalt University of Applied Sciences," she says with a smile.
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences warmly congratulates Halyna Huzenko on this award. Her example impressively demonstrates how international students can combine academic excellence and personal strength with courage, motivation and commitment and enrich university life.
