Anneysha Zafrin, a dedicated development professional from Bangladesh has been awarded the highly coveted fully funded German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst – DAAD) scholarship to pursue the Master’s degree in International Media Studies (IMS), starting September 2024.
Globally, only 10 outstanding individuals are awarded with this scholarship for IMS programme. This year, Anneysha is the only Bangladeshi among the 10 individuals to receive this prestigious award. The IMS programme is a collaboration between the University of Applied Sciences BonnRhine-Sieg, the University of Bonn and the Deutsche Welle (DW) Akademie.
The DAAD scholarship is known for its rigorous selection process, recognizing individuals who demonstrate outstanding academic and professional achievements. It offers more benefits than other scholarships in Germany and students selected gets the following benefits:
- Tuition fees and examination fees
- Monthly allowance (Masters-934 Euros)
- Tickets for flights
- Health insurance
- Provision of house rent and monthly allowance for family members
DAAD, under its Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) programme offers individual scholarships to participants from developing countries which are closely linked to practical experience. As a scholarship recipient, she will benefit from a range of support services, including academic mentoring, professional networking opportunities, and access to Germany’s leading institutions and resources. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum that integrates media development, journalism, and communication studies with a strong focus on international perspectives and practices.
Anneysha’s academic journey began with a graduation in Agriculture from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), followed by a Master of Development Studies from Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP). She has a robust background in development work, having contributed to prominent organizations such as the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), UNICEF Bangladesh & ActionAid Bangladesh. Currently, she is making significant impacts in her role at an international organization focusing communication and policy advocacy.
As Bangladesh prepares for its graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status in 2026, this transition presents both opportunities and challenges that necessitate robust media and development strategies. With Bangladesh’s anticipated LDC graduation, Anneysha is poised to make significant contributions towards enhancing development communication, strengthening media practices, fostering international cooperation & supporting policy development. Her future contributions are anticipated to play a pivotal role in the country’s development narrative, particularly in the realms of media and international cooperation.