Interview with Federal Minister of Education Johanna Wanka
1. What can a student benefit from a scholarship?
Wanka: First of all, a scholarship helps students finance their studies and their living expenses. This allows you to concentrate more on your studies. In addition, there are often additional offers of non-material support that scholarship holders can take advantage of. The gifted support organizations offer a wide range of opportunities for personal development or interdisciplinary events as well as individually tailored advisory services. Networking opportunities with other motivated students across subject boundaries are another positive aspect. With the Deutschlandstipendium you can also establish contacts with private sponsors. Another benefit of scholarships is that they give young people recognition for their achievements: “You can do something. Keep it up! We will support you.” – This is perhaps the most important message behind a scholarship.
2. Who do you think should get a scholarship?
Wanka: The federal government is investing 1.5 billion euros in BAföG this year alone. In this way, we ensure that no one in Germany has to forgo studying for financial reasons. By awarding scholarships, we also support students who demonstrate outstanding achievements in their studies or through a special social commitment and who can therefore be expected to advance our country in the future: be it in science, in business or also in politics, culture and society. However, we should be careful not to play off the broad support through BAföG and the top support through scholarships against each other. We need both.
3. In your opinion, are there students for whom a scholarship is not an option?
Wanka: Performance and talent are not only reflected in grades. Therefore, gifted support organizations and the Deutschlandstipendium also take many other aspects into account. An example: A young woman with a migrant background who is the first in the family to study may achieve a much higher level of achievement than a fellow student who grew up in an academic household. But she might not even think about applying for a scholarship. That's why I'm grateful for initiatives like http://arbeiterkind.de/, which encourage young people to start studying and also advise them on questions about financing their studies. And I can give all students this advice: see which gifted support organization, which program or which of the numerous private offers suits you best with your personal profile. And then apply. Find out about the possibilities for funding, for example from the gifted funding organizations on the Internet at http://www.stipendiumplus.de/startseite.html, about the Deutschlandstipendium at http://www.deutschlandstipendium.de/ and about the scholarships for those with professional qualifications at http://www.sbb-stipendien.de/. Maybe talk to a university professor you trust about this question or take advantage of the student advisory service. Have the courage and apply! It is worth it ..
Related articles:
- Eric Stehfest – I look into your heart…
- Study abroad sponsored by…
- In the supporting role, a student
- Element of Crime and the fall of the Berlin Wall
- I am the common thread
- Interview: consumer research
- Focus on trade: interviews
- Rebellion of the city children
- “Internet is like reading a newspaper!” Interview with Jan Böhmermann
- Interview with Oliver Wnuk
Interview with Federal Minister of Education Johanna Wanka 1. What can a student benefit from a scholarship? Wanka: First of all, a scholarship helps students finance their studies and their living expenses. This allows you to concentrate more on your studies. In addition, there are often additional offers of non-material support that scholarship holders can take advantage of. So
