Yash Gugaliya was awarded this year's DAAD Prize for outstanding achievements by foreign students at Harz University of Applied Sciences. He impressed with his excellent academic performance in the Master's programme in Technology and Innovation Management and his extraordinary commitment to the international university community. The award ceremony took place during the graduation ceremony of the faculty of Automation and Computer Science on 28 November 2025 in the Audimax.

Yash Gugaliya is studying for a Master's degree in Technology and Innovation Management, taught in English. In modules such as Strategic Innovation Management, Agile Requirements Engineering, Information Retrieval Technology and Technology Assessment and Sustainability, he is one of the top performers in his year.
His studies build on a very good bachelor's degree in Production Engineering in Pune, India. He brings practical experience, including from his work at Bosch, to projects and courses at Harz University of Applied Sciences.

In addition to his academic achievements, Yash is involved in a wide range of student activities. As an elected member and financial officer of the student council in the faculty of Automation and Computer Science, he advocates for the interests of his fellow students and strengthens cohesion within the faculty.
His commitment was particularly evident in his organisation of the Indian cultural festivals Navratri and Diwali on campus. These events brought together over 80 students from Germany, India, Iran, Pakistan and other countries to enjoy dance, music and traditional food together.
Yash thus creates spaces for intercultural encounters and helps to build bridges for cultural exchange. He is involved in the "Interforum" student association and participates in international evenings and joint excursions to bring students from different backgrounds into conversation with each other.
In addition, he encourages international students in particular to improve their German language skills outside of class and supports them in orienting themselves to everyday student life in Germany. In this way, he helps new students feel welcome and integrated more quickly.

His sense of responsibility extends beyond the campus. In India, Yash was active in the Robin Hood Army for several years, helping to distribute surplus food to those in need.
He is currently working on concepts for deposit systems in the Global South as part of an international sustainability initiative. The aim is to reduce plastic waste and design the circular economy in such a way that informal waste collectors also benefit from the new structures.

With his combination of excellent academic achievements, intercultural engagement and social responsibility, Yash Gugaliya embodies the goals of the DAAD Prize in a special way. He enriches Harz University of Applied Sciences professionally, personally and culturally and is an inspiring role model for German and international students alike.

The graduation ceremony and award presentation were broadcast live on YouTube and translated into English. The recorded livestream is available here.