proRWTH Initiates New Scholarship Fund

When RWTH alumnus Dr. Philip Jungbecker talks about his mechanical engineering studies, his eyes light up. Not only does he like to think back on the exciting and challenging times of his studies and doctorate, but he is also very grateful for the experience. This is because he had the opportunity to receive an RWTH scholarship for promising students – and took advantage of it. "I wouldn't be where I am today professionally if I hadn't received this support. It is not only that financial support gives students more time and space to focus on their studies. Those who receive a scholarship can often also get to know their sponsors and network with interesting companies early on in their studies. These are very precious connections for your later career." Straight after completing his doctorate in 2012, Philip Jungbecker, for example, started his professional career at Oerlikon, where he was able to quickly develop his skills as an engineer and manager. Since 2017, he has been senior technology manager at Oerlikon Barmag. His company's membership in proRWTH now offers him the opportunity to support a new scholarship.

Scholarship programs usually have long lead times with fixed application deadlines and also a detailed list of requirements that applicants must fulfill, often including an above-average academic performance. But what happens to the young, talented students whose performance is not quite outstanding or who didn't apply for a scholarship program and, for example, suddenly find themselves in financial hardship after the unexpected loss of a student job? Not all of them can fall back on family support or are entitled to BAFöG. "This has been especially brought home to us in the pandemic," says Ole Lee of the Social Committee of the AStA of RWTH Aachen University, "This can lead to students discontinuing their studies without an injection of funds. And that's when you need help right away." This situation led us to initiate the #RWTHhilft campaign during the pandemic and saw more than 100,000 euros donated to the proRWTH association of friends in order to provide fast and direct support.

After this experience, proRWTH decided to set up a corresponding scholarship fund specifically for this purpose. The scholarships are funded entirely through donations. A married couple gave the first large donation of 30,000 euros back in 2021 and will top up the funding pot with the same amount each year. The scholarship formats are as flexible as the program itself: a financial injection for students experiencing an acute shortage or continuous financial support over the semester. AStA is responsible for assessing the applicants’ eligibility for funding. Its Social Committee advises and refers several thousand students a year and assists students in applying for scholarships funded by proRWTH.

However, students who, in addition to their studies, volunteer – in 1 of the 18 student councils, as 1 of the 90 members of AStA, or in the various student initiatives – also have to deal with financial hardships. They then don’t have the time to get a student job to finance their studies. "It's almost a vicious circle," as Kathrin Böttger from TechAachen e.V., the umbrella organization of student technical initiatives, knows all too well: "Without a job, there's no money, and without money, many people can't get ahead in their studies." There are now 109 student initiatives, 13 of which are based at TechAachen. Students build rockets, solar cars, hydrogen cars, hyperloops in vacuum tubes, invent stair-climbing wheelchairs, special prostheses, and conduct research in the field of synthetic biology, for example. They compete in competitions around the world, win prizes, reorganize themselves, and also interact with company representatives who support their projects. "It is a truly enriching experience alongside my studies! It also helps us in our studies, because this is where students learn to handle materials, build and establish things, create teamwork, do marketing for their project," says Böttger.

So a scholarship not only pushes aside financial worries, but allows you to have the time and headspace to study better and more successfully. "But it is also important," adds Ole Lee of AStA, "that as many former scholarship holders as possible also give something back later, perhaps through their company or a private donation."

– Jeannette Schwerdt, Christine Cox