"On July 2-4, 2015, I attended the 2015 DAAD-RISE Scholarship Holder Meeting in Heidelberg. A variety of social and academic events occurred throughout the meeting, all of which I, a RISE program participant, found helpful. Thursday evening was devoted to a barbecue for the interns, and Friday afternoon and evening were devoted to a city tour and dinner for the interns. Both events provided me with numerous chances to not only relax in the company of fellow interns, but also gather useful and enlightening information about what fellow interns were studying at which universities, what was the project of their internships, and what their plans were for the future. Friday morning was devoted to a presentation of academic and industry opportunities. The presentation was coordinated and hosted by the RISE program, but it included speakers from various places across Germany and abroad. Current professors in German institutions and RISE alumni spoke about opportunities for further study in Germany and opportunities for employment in Germany. Diplomatic staff from the embassies of countries participating in the RISE program delivered speeches that expressed support for and encouraged further participation in exchange programs like those done by the DAAD. The conference closed with 10 minute presentations by various RISE participants that summarized the topic and methods of their research project."
~ Garrett Early