Success Through Achievement and Dedication!

On November 23, 13 HSZG students from various degree programmes received their certificates for a Germany Scholarship for the 2016/2017 funding year during a ceremony in Zittau.

This makes the University part of a success story. Just five years after its launch, the Germany Scholarship—established in 2011 by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)—has become an integral part of nationwide support for talented students.

The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences has participated from the very beginning in this concept—a first of its kind in Germany—of a public-private educational partnership. At that time, five candidates were able to receive funding from the federal government and regional companies or private sponsors.

The funding model works as follows: The government and society jointly support high-achieving and dedicated young people on their educational journey. Regardless of their income, students receive 300 euros per month. Of this amount, private sponsors contribute 150 euros, while the federal government covers the other half.

A total of 54 students submitted applications for 13 scholarships this year. “As always, the selection process was not easy for us, as there were many good applicants,” said Rector Professor Friedrich Albrecht.

To be eligible for a Germany Scholarship, the selection process takes into account not only top-notch grades but also social engagement and special personal achievements. In addition to achievement, personality also counts—which, in turn, gives young talents the opportunity to achieve educational success regardless of their social background.

The majority of all Germany Scholarship recipients are involved in volunteer work. This also applies to this year’s scholarship recipients at the HSZG. Fabian Hilger (23) is a KIA student in Mechanical Engineering. In his free time, he works as a lifeguard. In the 2016–2017 academic year, he is receiving support from the Aukom association. Max Hollan (23) also works as a lifeguard. The KIApro student in Mechanical Engineering, who is sponsored by TRUMPF Sachsen GmbH, is also active in the volunteer fire department and the German Red Cross. EUROIMMUN AG will be supporting Reni Kitte, a student of molecular biotechnology, in the future. The 25-year-old is active in clubs and has been involved in the HSZG’s refugee aid working group.

“I’d like to succeed in my studies without having to give up my social involvement. The Germany Scholarship gives me and all the other scholarship recipients the freedom we need to do that,” says Alina Egorova. The 22-year-old student majoring in business and languages will be supported in the future by Members of Parliament Michael Kretschmer, Stephan Meyer, and Octavian Ursu.

Many of the sponsors from the business, political, and civic sectors took the time to attend the certificate presentation in person.

Among them was Ulrich Neumann from Sparkasse Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien: “We’ve been involved as sponsors from the very beginning and have always had very good experiences with our scholarship recipients. Our most recent scholarship recipient is currently completing an internship with us. Of course, we’re also offering this opportunity to our newest scholarship recipient.”

Following the certificate presentation, the students and their sponsors took the opportunity to talk with one another and get to know each other better in a relaxed atmosphere.

Politically and ethically independent, the universities participating in the Germany Scholarship have raised nearly 87 million euros in private funding since the scholarship program was introduced five years ago. In 2015 alone, approximately 7,000 private donors contributed 25.3 million euros. This commitment benefited 24,300 young people in 2015.

Melanie Zirzow of LEAG Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG is pleased with the scholarship program’s growing importance each year: “The positive development of the Deutschlandstipendium is proof to us that our support for the idea of a public-private partnership in the field of education is fully justified.”

Within five years, the scholarship program has become firmly established in the German higher education landscape and represents a scholarship culture supported by the federal government, universities, and private sponsors, which creates sustainable added value for all stakeholders.

Our heartfelt congratulations to all Germany Scholarship recipients!

Overview of the 2016/2017 scholarship recipients and their sponsors: