Christian Bode

Christian Bode served as Secretary General of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for 20 years (1990–2010). The DAAD is one of the world's largest organisations promoting international academic mobility and cooperation. It also plays a leading role in the internationalisation of German higher education.

Christian Bode studied law and obtained his PhD from the University of Bonn in 1971. Between 1972 and 1982, he held various senior positions at the Federal Ministry of Education and Science. From 1982 to 1990, he served as Secretary General of the (then West German) Rectors' Conference.

He was a co-founder of the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) in Brussels and has served on the governing boards of numerous academic organisations and professional associations. He has published extensively on higher education policy, with a particular focus on internationalisation.

He has received several honorary doctorates and numerous distinctions, including the Cassandra Pyle Award (NAFSA, USA) and the Constance Meldrum Award from the European Association for International Education (EAIE)