Honorary doctorate for BTU Professor Dr Sven Michel

The Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy at Al Zahrawi University (AZU) in Iraq has awarded Prof. Dr Sven Michel from the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) an honorary doctorate Dr med. h. c.. With this prestigious award, the university is honouring the BTU professor's many years of outstanding scientific achievements in the field of medicine, whose international visibility and relevance is underlined by numerous publications, projects and collaborations.

The doctoral certificate was presented at a ceremony in Berlin on 21 October 2025 as part of a German-Arab symposium on cryosurgery. The award was presented by the Medical Rector of Al Zahrawi University, Prof. Dr Salam Ahjel. Also present was the Attaché of the Iraqi Embassy, Mr Alaa Alshujiery, who presented Prof. Michel with an official invitation on behalf of the Iraqi government. The background to this invitation is the growing interest of other Iraqi universities in the successful scientific cooperation between Al Zahrawi University and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU). The Iraqi government intends to place this form of scientific cooperation on a broader institutional basis in the future and to fund it sustainably.

In his laudatory speech during the ceremony, Prof. Ahjel emphasised: "Prof. Michel combines research, healing and teaching in an impressive way. His numerous scientific publications are closely linked to this honour and reflect the international significance of his work. His therapeutic and didactic approach stands for scientific precision, innovation and practical relevance. With the integration of modern sensor technology and clear biological reference values, he sets standards from which we can learn and which we want to carry forward, in particular with our new study programme in human medicine."

Prof. Michel heads the Therapy Sciences II chair at BTU and is also President of the German-Arab University Conference (DAHK). His scientific focus is on the development and evaluation of sensor-based therapy concepts that combine movement analysis, digital technologies and clinical application. His work enjoys international recognition and is regarded as a driving force for modern, evidence-based and patient-centred therapy methods.

Following the symposium and the award ceremony, German-Arab cooperation was intensified at an institutional level: On the following day, District Administrator Udo Witschas personally received the delegation from Al Zahrawi University at the Bautzen District Office together with the Manager of Oberlausitz-Kliniken, Jörg Scharfenberg. The district of Bautzen, which is the largest district in Lusatia both in terms of area and population, provided a representative setting for the visit. The meeting focussed on the development of a German-Arab exchange in medical education.

District Administrator Udo Witschas (CDU) emphasised in the press release from the Bautzen District Office:

'This exchange impressively demonstrates how international cooperation and mutual understanding can build bridges - for strong and future-oriented medical cooperation in both countries.

(The full press release from the district administration can be found here on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Landrat.Udo.Witschas/posts/847921261223200)

One concrete result of the meeting is the project led by Prof. Michel and funded by the district of Bautzen for integrated language and specialist training in the medical professions. German and English language training at Al Zahrawi University is anchored parallel to medical training. The aim is to prepare students linguistically and professionally so that they can make a seamless transition to further study programmes at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg after completing their training in Iraq and at the same time gain professional recognition in Germany.