20 years of the University of Mannheim Foundation: innovative strength for the future!

20 years of the University of Mannheim Foundation: innovative strength for the future!

The University of Mannheim Foundation will celebrate its 25th anniversary on October 2, 2025. The foundation was founded on January 2, 2000 by the Society of Friends of the University of Mannheim (FUM) to organize and promote financial support for the academic community. A significant step in the development of the foundation was the merger in 2005 with the foundation of the alumni association ABSOLVENTUM, which formed the basis for today's structure.

Over the past 20 years, the foundation has implemented various important projects through continuous support from sponsors, companies and private individuals. The most outstanding initiatives include the Best Minds program, which was launched in 2016 and supports international researchers, and the Mannheim Opportunity Scholarship from 2017, which supports financially needy students. The latter was initiated, among others, by Norman Stassen and the RUFE Rheinhyp support fund.

Important projects and help in times of crisis

In view of the challenges posed by the corona pandemic, the foundation provided emergency aid for 130 students and promoted e-learning measures in order to maintain teaching operations. The foundation also reacted quickly during the Ukraine war in 2022 and provided scholarships for five Ukrainian scientists.

The anniversary celebration on September 30, 2025 offered a comprehensive look back at the foundation's beginnings. Dr. Josef Zimmermann, a long-time member of the foundation, led the program, while Sabrina Scherbarth and Tom Könemann presented current projects and funding. Rector Prof. Dr. Thomas Fetzer took the opportunity to give an outlook on future funding projects.

The Germany Scholarship

A central element of support at the University of Mannheim is the Deutschlandstipendium. Under this program, scholarships are awarded to talented freshmen and students. The monthly funding amounts to 300 euros and is initially paid out for one year, with the possibility of extending it up to the standard period of study if you achieve appropriate academic performance.

The scholarship holders are selected according to strict criteria: Applicants must be enrolled at the University of Mannheim and demonstrate very good school or study performance. In addition, non-academic involvement, migration backgrounds or origins from a non-academic parental home are also taken into account. Applications are made via an online form on the University of Mannheim website, which makes access easier.

Through these initiatives and programs, the University of Mannheim Foundation not only strengthens academic excellence, but also promotes social responsibility and integration within the student body. The coming years point to many exciting developments.