MHB again joins grant programme

Neuruppin, 8 February 2019

The Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane (MHB) again joins the grant programme Deutschlandstipendium. According to a recent notification from the Brandenburg Ministry of Science, Research and Cultural Affairs, Brandenburg approves funding for a total of 22 grants starting with the summer semester 2019. The suggestion for joining the nation-wide programme came from MHB press spokesman Dr. Eric Hoffmann, who welcomes the considerable increase from 7 grants in 2017 to 14 in 2018 and now 22. His explicit thanks go to the foundation of the local bank Sparkasse Ostprignitz-Ruppin for their support.

He describes the specifics of the programme introduced by the Federal Government in 2011: “The number of available grants depends on the number of students enrolled at MHB in the previous winter semester, but also on the private funds we manage to procure. The underlying idea is to honour dedicated students for outstanding performance and to support tomorrow’s experts in a scheme of public-private partnership. Each Euro from private donors is matched from public funds. Businesses, foundations and private individuals can contribute to the education of future physicians and psychologists with 150 EUR per month, so that students receive a total grant of 300 EUR. Duration of public funding corresponds to that of the private funding commitment.”

In this manner, a new scholarship culture has been introduced in Germany, with now approximately 26,000 grant recipients at more that 300 institutions of tertiary education. The programme supports students whose motivation promises outstanding performance during their studies and beyond. The broad concept of performance comprises not only high marks and academic achievements but also a will to assume social responsibility or to successfully tackle obstacles and opposition in one’s life and course of education. A further aspect of consideration, apart from talent/performance and social commitment, is a student’s social, familial or personal environment. The inclusion of this criterion means that students from immigrant, refugee or educationally disadvantaged families, with physical handicaps or dependants can be specifically targeted.

Hoffmann adds: “The monthly grant of 300 EUR is paid out on top of BAföG; the duration is at least two semesters, the maximum is the standard period of studies. This makes the recipients less dependent on student jobs and helps them to concentrate on their studies. Our participation in the Deutschlandstipendium also aims to support equal educational chances. The growing numbers of students and thereby of potential grants are a challenge to attract further sponsors, so that we can make full use of the funds available.”

Nadine Roeseler-Shalala is in charge of fundraising at the MHB. She points out that potential sponsors have a wide range of options. It is possible to donate an entire grant for one year or longer; but smaller contributions are always welcome. She intends to facilitate and cultivate direct contacts between donors and grant recipients and to this purpose plans an official ceremony where the grant certificates are handed over and the sponsors can meet “their” grant recipients in person. The event would also be a special way to say thank you and would serve to promote networking and the culture of scholarships.
For more information on the grant programme Deutschlandstipendium see here.

If you wish to join the programme as a sponsor, please contact:

Nadine Roeseler-Shalala

MHB Fundraising

Phone: 03391 39-14106

E-Mail: nadine.shalala@mhb-fontane.de