Education for Peace and Development – KAAD published its Annual Report 2024

As a church-based scholarship organisation, KAAD supports young individuals from the Global South and Eastern Europe who are prepared to take responsibility for the development of their home countries – inspired by a Christian view of humanity and a spirit of international solidarity.

Fostering Future Leaders – Spiritually and Societally
KAAD’s mission is to empower well-educated professionals who will actively contribute to the social, academic and pastoral development of their regions following their studies in Germany, their home countries or third countries. The funding extends far beyond financial assistance: it includes a comprehensive programme of academic and value-based formation, spiritual accompaniment and access to a global network rooted in the Church, academia and civil society.

In 2024, a total of 364 scholarship holders were supported, particularly from Ghana, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Syria, Indonesia and Peru. Scholarships are awarded through various programmes – in Germany, in-country (“sur place”) and in third countries – in close cooperation with church-based partner institutions on the ground.

A New Name: A Sign of Partnership and Exchange
In 2024, the general assembly of KAAD e. V. decided to change the organisation’s name to Catholic Academic Exchange Service (Katholischer Akademischer Austauschdienst). The term "exchange" reflects the organisation’s emphasis on intercultural and spiritual dialogue – an exchange of experiences, knowledge and faith that has long characterised KAAD’s work. The name change will be implemented in 2025.

Knowledge with Responsibility: Annual Academy on Artificial Intelligence
As part of its programme of academic formation, KAAD regularly addresses global ethical challenges. The 2024 Annual Academy explored the opportunities and risks of Artificial Intelligence through an interdisciplinary lens – with particular focus on its societal implications in the Global South. Topics such as human dignity, consciousness and responsibility were addressed in lectures and discussion forums. AI was also the subject of seminars and working groups in partner countries such as Zimbabwe.

International Collaboration for Peace and Justice
In cooperation with Adveniat, KAAD launched a new scholarship programme for committed laypersons and members of religious orders in Latin America. The initiative aims to strengthen church structures in the region and to integrate scholarship holders into the global KAAD network. An international academy in Egypt addressed issues of public health from an interreligious perspective. Moreover, KAAD continues its engagement in countries such as Ethiopia, Colombia, Myanmar and Lebanon – even under difficult political conditions.

A Spiritual Setting for Language Acquisition
Since 2024, new KAAD scholarship holders have been hosted for an intensive German language course at St. Catherine’s Monastery in Angermund, near Düsseldorf. Run by Benedictine sisters, the monastery offers not only accommodation but also spiritual community and guidance – a tangible expression of KAAD’s vision of combining education, faith and intercultural learning.

Funding and Global Networking
With a total budget of approximately €4.8 million, 49 % of KAAD’s work in 2024 was funded by church tax contributions. Additional support was provided by Misereor/KZE, the German Federal Foreign Office, Renovabis, and third-party contributions from universities and dioceses. KAAD’s network includes 46 partner committees worldwide and 37 alumni associations active in academia, church and society.

"Accompanying People Who Embrace Responsibility"
KAAD President Fr Dr Hans Langendörfer SJ highlights the spiritual dimension of the organisation’s mission in the Annual Report: “We seek to accompany individuals who bring with them not only knowledge and education, but also an attitude of responsibility – for their society, for the most vulnerable, for peace. In a world marked by upheaval, such people offer hope.”
 

Download KAAD Annual Report 2024