From 13th to 14th May 2023, the third regional PASCH Alumni Meeting of the South Asia region (Bangalore, Chennai, Colombo, Dhaka, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Pune) took place in New Delhi, which has been happening since 2019.
Approximately 120 participants were present on the first day of the event. On the first day, German universities and internationally operating German companies showcased themselves in a fair, offering opportunities for personal conversations not only to the region's alumni but also to students in 11th and 12th grades. The event began with a panel discussion involving representatives from the business and academic sectors, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and the board of a renowned PASCH school. The German-Indian Chamber of Commerce, along with Pro Recognition, was represented by our PASCH Alumna Ambassador, who recently started working there. During the panel discussion, the invited partners expressed their views on how learning German can promote career paths in South Asia and in Germany as well.
The second day solely focused on the exchange among the South Asian alumni. The alumni emphasized the importance of the network to them and their identification with the PASCH initiative.
PASCH-Ambassador & Executive - ProRecognition & Hand in Hand for International Talents Aishwarya Ketkar
Ms Aishwarya Ketkar, a PASCH-Ambassador from Mumbai, began her journey in 2016 as a scholarship recipient through the PASCH Initiative. This opportunity allowed her to attend a youth course in Germany, sparking her interest in the language and culture. With a Commerce background from her graduation, Aishwarya further developed her German language skills at the Goethe-Institut Mumbai. Combining her passion for German and Commerce, she is currently involved in two projects, "ProRecognition & Hand in Hand for International Talents," focusing on skilled migration, at the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce in Mumbai, where she continues to thrive.
Member, Board of Management, Ahlcon International School Ashok Pandey
Mr Ashok Pandey, the founding Principal of Ahlcon International School and founding member of the PASCH Schools in India, is a renowned educator and author. He has authored two bestselling books on classroom teaching and school management. As an alumnus of Goethe-Institut, he actively contributes to the Alumniportal Deutschland. The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad recognized his impactful Professional Development Programme, publishing a case study on it. With accolades like the National Teacher Award 2012, Extraordinary Leadership Award 2021, and Forbes India Top 100 People Manager's Award 2020, Mr. Pandey is a respected thought leader in education. He champions Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has contributed over 20 articles/papers on NEP2020/SDGs. He presently serves on the governing boards of NCTE, Cambridge NEP Advisory Board, and Ahlcon Group of Schools.
Counsellor, Head of Cultural Department, German Embassy, New Delhi Johannes Höber
Mr Johannes Höber, the Counsellor and Head of Cultural Department at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in New Delhi, joined the Federal Foreign Office in 2018. He hails from Munich and has pursued studies in law, specializing in International and European Law. Previous work experience include stations at the Federal Chancellery and the German Embassy in Addis Ababa. Mr. Hoeber moved to New Delhi in July 2021. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his current role in promoting cultural exchange between Germany and India.
Director, DAAD Regional Office New Delhi Dr Katja Lasch
Dr Katja Lasch is the Director of the DAAD Regional Office New Delhi. She is responsible for the coordination and strategic development of the DAAD activities in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. At the same time, she heads the German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New Delhi and is responsible for its strategic management. Prior to her work in India, she headed the DAAD’s International Research Marketing Division at the head office in Bonn and the DAAD Information Centre in Bucharest (Romania).
Marketing Head, Fulda University of Applied Sciences Marco Krinowski
Mr Marco Krinowski is the International Marketing Manager at Fulda University of Applied Sciences. He´s got a university background in Intercultural Communication (M.A) as well as personal experience studying and working abroad. Mr. Krinowski has developed and pursued communication and recruiting strategies at different higher education institutions in Germany since 2014.
MD & CEO India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Dr. Oetker Oliver Mirza
Oliver is the Managing Director & CEO of Dr. Oetker in India, South Asia and South East Asia (SSEA). A veteran with more than 30 years food experience, he has successfully headed Dr. Oetker’s India business for over a decade. In 2008, Oliver was appointed to design the India entry strategy. Under his leadership, Dr. Oetker acquired FunFoods, a local Indian brand, in 2008 and Kuppies, a dessert brand in 2021. Oliver
played a pivotal role in defining the vision and leadership team for Dr. Oetker in India. With Oliver at the helm, India has witnessed unprecedented growth. The Indian affiliate is now the largest business in the Africa, Asia, Australia (3A) Region.
Educational Programme Officer „International Youth Work“ Markus Rebitschek
Mr Markus Rebitschek holds a university degree in East European History, Political Sciences, and Slavic Studies. He has been actively involved in international education work since 2003, initially as a volunteer and later as a freelance trainer and seminar leader specializing in international mobility programmes for young people and adults, with a focus on Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. He also provides guidance to institutions in the development of international cooperation. Since 2013, he has served as an educational programme officer at the European Youth Education and Meeting Centre in Weimar (EJBW) within the department of "International Youth Work". In this capacity, his primary responsibilities include the development and implementation of youth exchanges, work camps, voluntary services, and workshops for young people. He also organizes conferences, seminars, and training programmes for experts in the field of youth work and civic education.
Partners
The “Schools: Partners for the Future” (PASCH) initiative creates a global network of more than 2,000 PASCH schools with particular ties to Germany. The Goethe-Institut supports around 600 PASCH schools in the national education systems of over 100 countries.
