The Saarland University of Applied Sciences (htw saar) is awarding student Claudia Armida Nossardi the 2026 DAAD Prize. The aspiring social worker and early childhood educator has impressed the university with her excellent academic performance and exceptional social commitment. The award was presented on September 21 during htw saar’s welcome event for international students.
Claudia Armida Nossardi is studying Social Work and Early Childhood Education in the Faculty of Social Sciences at htw saar. In her sixth semester, she has a grade point average of 1.5. A native of Sardinia, she is from Italy and has been living in Germany since 2021. She learned German relatively shortly before beginning her studies.
Her path to the university was by no means a foregone conclusion. Nossardi originally came to Germany to work in the restaurant industry. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck—and she had to reorient her career. Vocational training or perhaps even a college degree? The latter was anything but a given for her: no one in her family had ever attended college before. Nevertheless, Nossardi decided to pursue this path and eventually began her studies at htw saar.
Her professors describe her as an exceptionally motivated and dedicated student. With critical questions, intellectual curiosity, and a desire to understand concepts in depth, she is deeply engaged in her studies. At the same time, she stands out for her team spirit and willingness to help others.
She has a particular academic interest in migration-related issues. In her current research project, Nossardi is working with a fellow student to examine how people arrive in Saarbrücken after successfully completing the asylum process and what impact municipal support services have. In doing so, she is linking her studies to a socially relevant issue.
The award recipient is also particularly active outside of her regular coursework. Among other things, she participated in the “Balu und Du” mentoring program, in which students accompany elementary school children over an extended period and serve as reliable mentors for them. In addition, she regularly participated in the study days organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences and attended the htw saar International Migration Conference. Alongside her studies, she also works in a group home run by child and youth welfare services.
With the DAAD Award, htw saar honors a student who combines excellent academic achievements with social commitment, a willingness to take on responsibility, and a reflective and respectful attitude toward others. At the same time, her personal educational journey demonstrates the opportunities that international higher education can open up.
At the award ceremony, Nossardi therefore also turned her attention to the international students who are just beginning their journey at htw saar: “I hope you find people who believe in you. But above all, I hope you believe in yourselves—even during times that aren’t so easy.”
About the DAAD Award
Each year, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) allocates funds from the Federal Foreign Office to award the DAAD Prize for outstanding achievements by international students at German universities. htw saar applies for these funds annually. The DAAD Prize has been awarded annually at htw saar since 2006. This year marked the 20th consecutive year it has been awarded. Candidates for the prize are nominated by professors at htw saar. The university’s international affairs officers discuss the nominations during a selection meeting.