DAAD Prize for Franco Rosso

And the 2020 DAAD Prize goes to… Franco Rosso. The student in the binational master’s program in International Business/Maestría Argentino-Alemana at Mainz University of Applied Sciences and the Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales (UCES) in Rafaela, Argentina, was honored by the German Academic Exchange Service with the award for outstanding achievements. The prize is endowed with 1,000 euros and is provided to the universities by the DAAD. This award is intended to recognize international students for exceptional academic achievements and remarkable social engagement. Franco Rosso thanks both of his universities for the opportunity to pursue this program and says: “I am very proud of this award, and Mainz University of Applied Sciences and UCES—which organize the master’s program as a team—can be just as proud.” Franco Rosso has been extremely dedicated to his studies from the very beginning. “To this day, he continues to diligently familiarize himself with new fields of knowledge and is pursuing his studies with great success,” emphasizes program director Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schüle. The 28-year-old Argentine is currently in his fifth semester in the Department of Economics, and his academic performance is outstanding. Franco Rosso has always excelled with outstanding achievements. In 2017, he graduated at the top of his class and was among the top three graduates across all programs at his university in Rafaela. The Argentine is currently working on his master’s thesis titled “Investment Project Analysis: Manufacturing and Commercialization of Li-ion Battery Packs for E-mobility Applications,” which he will defend in October 2020 before an Argentine-German jury. Starting in September, Franco Rosso will complete an internship lasting several weeks in Frankfurt. Studying in Mainz has been and continues to be a unique experience for Franco Rosso, one that has “helped him grow” both academically and personally. “I’d like to advise other students to study abroad, learn new languages, and get to know fellow students from different countries,” emphasizes the Argentine, adding: “You wouldn’t be able to have these experiences if you didn’t go abroad to study.” In addition to his outstanding academic achievements and his exceptionally strong foreign language skills (he speaks not only English but also German and Italian very well), the master’s student’s commitment deserves special mention, as he has been actively involved in numerous social and intercultural projects for years. Even during his high school years, the Argentine worked to support the elderly and children through various charitable organizations such as “La casita del niño.” As a rugby player, he was responsible for youth development at his local club. In addition, he established a partnership program between the cities of Rafaela and Sigmaringendorf in Baden-Württemberg. He had already completed an internship in Swabia while still in high school. He encourages Argentine students to study abroad and recruits companies on both the Argentine and German sides to participate in exchange programs. Even while studying at Mainz University of Applied Sciences, he supports his fellow students in volunteer study groups. Franco Rosso is highly regarded among the international student body because, among other things, his friendly and open nature allows him to adapt remarkably well to other languages and cultures.