Interview with BTU Alumnus Dr. Naveed Ahmad Khan (PhD Social and Behavioural Economics)

"It was an amazing and challenging experience to work with BTU as a researcher after having exposure from UK and Pakistan."

Naveed Ahmad Khan did his PhD in Social and Behavioural Economics at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg after studying in Pakistan and London (UK). He is an interdisciplinary scientist at the intersection of industrial social psychology, cognitive science, leader-member exchange and statistics, focusing on developing intelligent behavioural techniques. He has multinational work experience in science and industry. He is also actively advocating for peace and justice and for the last six years continuously serve charity (Humanity First-Deutschland) helping children's education and eliminating poverty.

Dear Naveed, you have come a long way and experienced a lot in your life. How did you come to BTU in Cottbus?
I moved to Cottbus in 2017. Previously I have multinational educational and work experience with skills in six languages. I did a bachelor's with a major in finance, statistics and economics from my home country Pakistan. I did MBA in human resource management and finance from London in the UK. After that, I wanted to serve my home country Pakistan but unfortunately there were severe legal restrictions for me, then I had to leave my country because of my Ahmadiyya-Muslim faith. In beginning, in Germany, I faced restrictions to start my further career or to join a University as a researcher. After a long struggle and sheer commitment to my life dream, I got acceptance into BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg as a PhD researcher and received DAAD scholarship. I decided to do deep research in Behavioural and Social Economics because I found this most relevant to my previous education and work experience. In January 2022, apart from five scientific research articles, I defended my doctoral research thesis successfully with Magna cum laude performance. It was an amazing and challenging experience to work with BTU as a researcher after having exposure from UK and Pakistan. 

You have work experience in science and industry. How would you describe the difference for young students who don't know which direction to go?
Science is the acceptance of what works and the rejection of what does not. When you start researching you may already have opinions and ideas about a particular problem. In scientific research the more you research, the more viewpoints you will come across. This encourages you to entertain new innovative ideas and perhaps take a closer look at yours by providing recent information available. Science develops realistic and rational thoughts there is no space for any biased idea. In scientific research having curiosity and a love of learning take you too far in life by developing discerning and analytical skills. Furthermore, scientific research gives you a solid foundation on which you can build your innovative concepts and ideas. A career in industries mostly focused on applied research. You must be able to develop projects that meet the company goals as you support the business plan of the company. Moreover, in the industry, the works are typically more deadline-driven, as teams work on the business-focused problem. I would suggest to young students do their SWOT analysis (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat) and count strengths and opportunities on one side and weakness and threats on the other side. After that, they should decide their career direction based on their SWOT results.

You are on the path of lifelong learning and have even completed a PhD, how do you motivate yourself going forward?
Well, it's all about how much you are sincere with your life dreams. For me a dream is not, that you see in sleep, a dream is something that does not let you sleep. Furthermore how much you are curious to learn to get better clarity about a particular point and to enhance your thinking capabilities. Lack of knowledge leads to ignorance and education is the only solution to the world problem. My aim in life is to serve humanity selflessly, so I can not achieve this high aim without having a deep understanding of concepts then I will be able to deliver to those who are in need. Though we are all aware that we are passing through difficult times of unrest in the world. It's enough for me to motivate myself, I have to raise my voice for those who are deprived, depressed and less fortunate. I have to present them for their basic rights, equality and justice. If we promote the good that is happening around us, we can overcome those who seek to undermine human cherished values of mercy and humanity.  

In addition to your work, you are also active on a voluntary basis. What drives you there and what do you draw from it for yourself?
As I have just said, in my home country I faced restrictions, hate and discrimination. In BTU I have full freedom of speech and practice to serve humanity, so I enjoy this freedom to the maximum. This drives me to utilise this freedom in service to humanity. My faith requires me to bandage the wounds of those in pain, remove the anxieties of those who are distressed and show love and compassion without any desire for recognition or worldly rewards. At all times, I utilise my capabilities and skills to the maximum to remove the hardship of people and to comfort those stricken by grief. I strongly believe that we can not build peaceful societies without considering others' pain and problems, so we should extend our help to those who are in pain to make them comfortable. By practising so, we can have a productive and progressive society. So all my volunteer humanitarian activities give me contentment and make me a responsible citizen. 

How would you describe Cottbus to other people from Pakistan and what do you enjoy most in the city and at the university?
I made a lot of friends at university. I was able to learn a lot about other cultures through the many international students at BTU. In the course of time, I have been able to visit many friends' places, played badminton, table tennis, long-running tracks and especially cycle ride in summer. I can only recommend it to everyone to build a strong network and integrate with society by actively participating in all events. Furthermore, I enjoyed the lakes around Cottbus and Senftenberg. Countless pleasant moments that I spent in BTU-Mensa and the library there together with my research colleagues and students. Moreover, research seminars, presentations and discussions lasted for hours but were also characterized by a lot of fun and gallows humour.

Kontakt

Daniel Ebert
VP S 3 ALUMNI
T +49 (0) 355 69-2420
daniel.ebert(at)b-tu.de
BTU Alumnus Dr. Naveed Ahmad Khan