My name is Daniel Rodriguez Perales. I am a former international student living in Germany who did his bachelor's and master's degrees at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT).  I would like to tell you a little bit about my journey through DIT and how I got my current position. When I was looking for a potential university programme, DIT seemed very attractive due to its wide range of unique and innovative courses. This led me to choose DIT over other universities in my home country Mexico, as well as other universities in Germany, Austria and England.

The Student Ambassador times

Throughout my studies at DIT, I have worked in various roles at the university. During my master’s programme I was offered the opportunity to become a "Student Ambassador". As a Student Ambassador I had the opportunity to help prospective students from all over the world, but especially from my home country and other Spanish-speaking countries. Suddenly I started helping the recruitment team with online fairs, answering students' emails, but most importantly helping prospective students on a one-to-one basis to join our institution. I achieved this by advising on various topics such as how to apply, how to adapt to life in Germany and, most importantly, giving students and their parents a sense of security in the decision to sturdy abroad and perhaps find a new home in the region in the long term.

The importance of this decision is often forgotten, as studying at DIT, as at any other university, has the potential to change people's lives forever. During my time as an ambassador, I developed a spark, a sense of the importance of this decision, which to this day drives me to provide the best possible service and advice to anyone who decides to make the journey to Germany and to my alma mater, DIT.

Success as a Student Ambassador at the German School of Guadalajara, Mexico

During my time as a Student Ambassador, I had the opportunity to visit my former school: The German School of Guadalajara. Going back to it was a great opportunity for me to help people from the same area as me to find their way around DIT. Today there are about five students from the German School of Guadalajara studying different German study courses. We even have a new ambassador from the German School of Guadalajara, Cristobal Perez.

Another successful recruitment story of the German School of Guadalajara is that of Alejandro Velez de Obaldia. He is studying "Media Technology" and decided to study at the DIT after my visit to the German School as a student ambassador and the online follow-up. It is important for us to go to places and maintain a relationship with important partners such as German schools abroad. Alejandro is a good example of our university's recruitment efforts in Latin America.

Becoming a full-time employee

Straight after graduating I was offered the chance to continue working in recruitment, an offer I couldn't refuse. Joining DIT full-time gave me a broader view of the recruitment world. Being an employee of the same institution that trained me as a professional was a win-win situation for both parties, as I already knew the institution from the inside, enabling me to provide a colorful range of information that is of great use in the recruitment field. On the other hand, I was able to make a smooth transition from being a student to being a productive member of society without any major difficulties, and I am very grateful for this opportunity.

USA in the House

Being a full-time student recruiter meant more responsibilities and more students to get in touch with. During the first few months, one group of students that I often accompanied on their way to our university were our US-American counterparts. I believe that the United States market is a great joint opportunity due to the high cost of education in the States as well as the long-term opportunities that Germany offers. I have had the pleasure of helping students from the Midwest, California and other areas find their way to our institution through webinars, one-on-one consultations and even tours of the Deggendorf campus.

Germany, a market of change

One of my new responsibilities as a recruiter at DIT was to recruit German students in the Lower Bavaria area and beyond. I was given the opportunity to travel to several German cities and learn about the opportunities and challenges that German students face when they leave school. We put a lot of effort and love into recruiting German students, by visiting schools and fairs as well as constant counselling and working with faculties and MINT.

We are navigating dynamic times, and as you can see, Germany is undergoing not only demographic change, but also structural ones such as the change to G9 in Bavaria and other federal states. Despite these seemingly challenging times, we have managed to remain an attractive option thanks to our quality and uniqueness. Together we are stronger. It is always a pleasure when a student applies after a consultation or a tour. Working in the DACH region has been a fulfilling experience full of new learnings. I am very much looking forward to many more positive experiences in this market, so that many more students will find their way to DIT.

Latin America is a vivid and growing thriving market

Europosgrados and the work with BayLat (growing number of applications during the application period): America as a continent has historically been called the land of opportunity, and for us as a public institution in Bavaria, the Latin American region is of particular interest. It is made up of Western nations with shared culture, values and historical ties to the European continent and Germany.

During the short time I have been in charge of the area, I have had some great and fulfilling experiences. I have had the pleasure of helping diverse people find their way to us from Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and other places in this region made up of so many nations. My personal relationships, connections, culture and language skills have been my greatest assets in working in this area. I have had the opportunity to work with influencers, offer advice and speak to parents, reassuring them that we are a great option for their children's higher education. The result has been an increase in applications from the region and even students joining our Austrian partner for the International Foundation Programme.

The intensive and professional work with the Bavarian University Centre for Latin America (BAYLAT) has also been one of our greatest assets in the region. We have been able to join them as part of the Bavarian consortium for several joint recruitment activities in Mexico for 2024, such as EUROPOSGRADOS in Mexico City and Leon. During my visit to Mexico, I was able to reach several hundred people through various activities, fairs and school visits.  I am confident that all our future joint ventures with BAYLAT and our efforts in the region to attract new students to Bavaria and our university will flourish. Latin America is a big region with growing potential and it's an honor for me to serve and help students from this region to come to DIT.

Daniel Rodriguez-Perales

Daniel Rodriguez Perales is DIT's recruiter for the Americas and DACH region. A DIT alumnus with a background in public health and health tourism, he is a globetrotter with diverse interests ranging from fawn rescue to food and wellness.