300 Euros per month will be paid to the scholarship holders for a duration of one year, which will be funded at a ratio of 50 to 50 by companies or private sponsors and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Having awarded 86 scholarships, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is one of the German universities that reached the maximum funding quota. The students received their certificates yesterday evening during a celebration with the sponsors. The funding period already started on October 01, 2011.
“The Deutschlandstipendium (Germany Scholarship) started well at KIT. We were able to reach the funding quota given by the BMBF, 0.45 percent of the students, to the complete extent,” says Professor Jürgen Becker, Chief Higher Education Officer of KIT. “We are very pleased that this initiative is not only supported by companies, but also by private sponsors.” Each scholarship is paid at equal ratios of EUR 150 per month by the Federal Republic of Germany and sponsors found by KIT. Among these sponsors are industry partners of KIT, the Karlsruhe University Society, and some KIT alumni. “It is of no use to point the finger at others, you have to do something yourself,” says Dr. Frank Stäudner, alumnus of the Department of Physics, who supports the Deutschlandstipendium. “Support of students should no longer be a matter of foundations or companies, but a heartfelt wish by private persons.”
The 86th scholarship is donated jointly by the two KIT Presidents Professor Horst Hippler and Professor Eberhard Umbach. “Today’s students are tomorrow’s decision-makers. Therefore, we consider it very important to support this program with all our efforts.”
With the Deutschlandstipendium, the federal government wishes to create incentives for talented students. “For me, the Deutschlandstipenium actually is more than just financial support. It is a recognition of my achievements and my commitment, and a motivation for my further studies,” says Michael Münig, student of business engineering and one of the first holders of a Germany scholarship at KIT. “Moreover, students get into contact with sponsors, which may be of high value for both sides.”
KIT has distributed the 86 scholarships to its eleven departments according to their numbers of students. The scholarship holders are selected by the departments based on the study achievements so far. But also prizes or voluntary services as well as personal or family circumstances may play a role. In the next funding period starting in the 2012/2013 winter semester, the highest quota will presumably amount to 1% of the students. This means that KIT will be able to award nearly 200 scholarships. From spring, companies and private sponsors will have the possibility to show their commitment again. Then, students and freshmen of all nationalities, who have already enrolled at KIT or will start their studies in the 2012/2013 winter semester, are invited to apply for scholarships again.
More information on the Deutschlandstipendium at KIT:
www.rsm.kit.edu/deutschlandstipendium
Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.