Success through performance and commitment!

On November 23, 13 HSZG students from various degree programs received their certificates for a Deutschlandstipendium 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 Deutschlandstipendium, which was established by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in 2011, has become an integral part of nationwide support for talented students.

Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences has been involved in this new concept of private-public educational partnership in Germany from the very beginning. At the time, five candidates received funding from the federal government and regional companies or private sponsors.

The funding principle is as follows: The state and society jointly support high-achieving and committed young people on their educational path. Regardless of their income, students receive 300 euros per month. Private sponsors contribute 150 euros, while the federal government contributes the other half.

A total of 54 students applied for 13 scholarships this year. "As always, the selection was not easy for us, as there were many very good applicants," says Rector Professor Friedrich Albrecht.

In order to be considered for a Deutschlandstipendium, social commitment and special personal achievements are taken into account in addition to first-class grades. In addition to performance, personality also counts, which in turn gives young talents the opportunity to achieve educational success regardless of their social background.

The majority of all Deutschlandstipendium scholarship holders are involved in voluntary work. This also applies to this year's HSZG scholarship holders. Fabian Hilger (23) is a KIA student in the field of mechanical engineering. In his spare time, he works as a lifeguard. He is being sponsored by the Aukom association in the 2016/2017 academic year. Max Hollan (23) also works as a lifeguard. The KIApro mechanical engineering student, who is sponsored by TRUMPF Sachsen GmbH, is also involved in the volunteer fire department and the German Red Cross. EUROIMMUN AG will support molecular biotechnology student Reni Kitte in the future. The 25-year-old is involved in clubs and was a member of the refugee aid working group at the HSZG.

"I would like to study successfully and at the same time not give up my social commitment. The Deutschlandstipendium scholarship gives me and all the other scholarship holders the freedom we need to do this," says Alina Egorova. The 22-year-old student of economics and languages will in future be supported by MPs Michael Kretschmer, Stephan Meyer and Octavian Ursu.

Many of the sponsors from business, politics and society took the time to attend the award ceremony in person.

Ulrich Neumann from Sparkasse Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien was one of them: "We have been a sponsor from the very beginning and have always had very good experiences with our scholarship holders. The last scholarship holder is currently completing an internship with us. Of course, we are also offering this opportunity to our youngest scholarship holder."

Following the presentation of the certificates, the students and their sponsors took the opportunity to talk to each other and get to know each other better in a relaxed atmosphere.

Politically and ethically independent, the universities participating in the Deutschlandstipendium have raised almost 87 million euros in private funding since the scholarship program was introduced five years ago. In 2015 alone, around 7,000 private sponsors donated 25.3 million euros. This commitment benefited 24,300 young people in 2015.

Melanie Zirzow from LEAG Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG is delighted with the growing importance of the scholarship program every year: "The positive development of the Deutschlandstipendium is proof for us that our support for the idea of a public-private partnership in the education sector is fully justified."

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

Congratulations to all Germany Scholarship holders!

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