20th Anniversary of the University of Mannheim Foundation
The foundation goes back to the idea and the commitment of the Gesellschaft der Freunde der Universität (Gdf), today called Freunde der Universität Mannheim e. V. (FUM). After almost 50 years of direct support from FUM, several board members of the association founded the predecessor organization of today's foundation on 2 January 2000. The merger of the predecessor organization and the foundation of the alumni association ABSOLVENTUM led to the establishment of today's University of Mannheim Foundation in 2005.
“For 20 years, we have been able to rely on sponsors, companies and private individuals who have continuously supported the University of Mannheim Foundation. This support is especially valuable in difficult economic times. Many projects – research projects or the Deutschland Scholarship – would not be possible in this form without the donations, capital contributions and testamentary gifts,” says President Professor Dr. Thomas Fetzer.
One of the foundation's milestones was the introduction of the Beste-Köpfe-Programm, which was made possible by a contribution from Dr. Hans-Peter Wild in 2016. The program has helped to keep international researchers in Mannheim and attract others to the University of Mannheim to remain globally competitive. Another success of the foundation is the Opportunity Mannheim Scholarship of the University of Mannheim Foundation, which was established in 2017. The scholarship provides students in financial need with the opportunity to take up or complete their studies. This fellowship was made possible by the capital contribution of Norman Stassen and RUFE Rheinhyp Unterstützungsfonds für Eurohypo-Mitarbeiter e. V. (ehem.). The Foundation's ad-hoc support over the years is also important: During the coronavirus pandemic, 130 students received support from the emergency relief fund and the university received funding for e-learning services. At the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, five Ukrainian researchers were awarded fellowships to continue their research at the University of Mannheim. They have been working there ever since.
In his speech at the ceremony on 30 September, Dr. Josef Zimmermann, founding member and longtime board member of Freunde der Universität Mannheim e. V., looked back on the foundation's beginnings. Sabrina Scherbarth, honorary managing director of the foundation, and Tom Könemann, academic staff member and former Deutschland Scholarship recipient, reported on current projects and funding opportunities. President Fetzer concluded the ceremony with an outlook on the planned funding projects for the coming years.
A reception in the Gartensaal followed the ceremony. Guests had the opportunity to find out more about the Mannheim Institute for Sustainable Energy Studies (MISES), the Graduate School of Economic and Social Sciences (GESS) at the University of Mannheim and financial education projects (Chair of Corporate Governance of Professor Dr. Alexandra Niessen-Ruenzi).
You can find out more about the milestones of the University of Mannheim Foundation online in the current FORUM magazine.