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A brief history
Brief History of the Studienstiftung
19.2.1921
Foundation of the students’ self-help organisation, “Wirtschaftshilfe der deutschen Studentenschaft” e.V. (German Students’ Economic Aid Organisation) in Tübingen, registered in Dresden, inter alia by Prof. Dr. Carl Duisberg.
29.1.1925
The Board of Economic Aid decides to establish the German National Academic Foundation as a department of Economic Aid. The registered office is Dresden. Financing is provided by the Central Government, the Federal States, and the municipalities.
Summer semester 1925
First round of selection for the Studienstiftung, exclusively processing nominations submitted by schools from the 1925 year of senior school graduates.
Winter semester 1925/26
The Studienstiftung’s first tutors are appointed at institutions of higher education. The selection procedure is extended to include universities.
From summer semester 1927
The Studienstiftung organises regional meetings for their scholars as well as conferences on current governmental policy on higher education.
1929
The “Wirtschaftshilfe” is renamed to “Deutsches Studentenwerk”.
20.3.1933
The steering committee of the National Socialist German Students’ League in Berlin declares the political alignment or “Gleichschaltung” of the “Deutsches Studentenwerk” (German Student Union) to be one of its political goals.
2.11.1934
The “Deutsches Studentenwerk” and the Studienstiftung are abolished and replaced by the “Reichsförderung”, a department of the newly-created “Reichsstudentenwerkes” (Reich Student Union).
6.3.1948
The German National Academic Foundation (“Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes e.V.”) is re-founded in Cologne. It is non-political and non-denominational. From the very beginning, the main criteria of admission are talent and personality irrespective of socio-economical status.
19.4.1948
Constitutive meeting of the Studienstiftung in Stuttgart. The Central Office is in Bonn.
Winter semester 1948/49
As the universities resume teaching, the first scholars are admitted, exclusively on the basis of nominations from universities in the Western Zones.
1970
Foundation of the Institute for Test Development and Talent Research (ITB) in Bonn working in the field of empirical research in the field of education and promotion of the exceptionally gifted.
From 1970
Summer academies and regular meetings with tutors.
The 1970s
In combination with the ITB’s findings, the Studienstiftung begins to streamline the admissions process at schools and institutions of higher education. It introduces serial tests for highest achieving school graduates in some Federal States and the automatic nomination of the best pre-diploma graduates. Furthermore, successful candidates in national competitions like “Jugend forscht” are automatically nominated.
1975
The Studienstiftung’s 50th anniversary celebrations in Würzburg.
1980 onwards
Differentiation between sponsorship opportunities: language courses, visits abroad, cooperation with industrial and service enterprises as well as major research establishments and foreign universities, extension of support for artists.
Winter semester 1989/90
Development of sponsorship in the newly created Federal States after the Unification.
September 1995
Introduction of sponsorship at universities of applied science (Fachhochschulen).
1999
Pilot project on creating a Studienstiftung Intranet called “Daidalosnet”.
6./7.10.2000
Celebration of the Studienstiftung’s 75th anniversary in Dresden.
Juni 2002
Introduction of Doktorandenforen (Regular Work Sessions of doctoral students)
September 2002
Opening of the Berlin Office
October 2002
Introduction of the Intranet as a joint information and communication platform for scholars, tutors, higher education staff and alumni. The name “Daidalosnet” is retained.
November 2004
Foundation of the Studienstiftung’s Kollegs. The first Kollegs get underway in autumn 2005.
October 2005
Start of the “Max Weber Programme“ for scholars from the “Bayerische Eliteförderung” (Bavarian promotion of elites)
2006 - 2009
The member of scholars has increased from ca 6,000 (2006) to more than 10,500 (2009).
2008
First social survey amongst the Studienstiftung´s scholars
February 2010
In addition to the system of recommendation, the Studienstiftung offers a new application process with a test (for students in the first year of study).
Source of data up to 1990:
Rolf-Ulrich Kunze: Die Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes seit 1925. Zur Geschichte der Hochbegabtenförderung in Deutschland. Berlin: Akad. Verl., 2001 (Edition Bildung und Wissenschaft; Bd. 8)