Events

Summer Festival for the Deutschlandstipendium in Hamburg

Our annual summer festival for the Deutschlandstipendium at Hamburg universities took place on Thursday, 27 June. Around 250 guests—students, sponsors, and university representatives—gathered on the Elbe terrace at HafenCity University. The event encouraged networking among Hamburg’s academic institutions, offered students a chance to engage in interdisciplinary discussions, and aimed to attract new sponsors for the Deutschlandstipendium in Hamburg.

Participating institutions included the University of Hamburg, Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, HafenCity University, Hamburg University of Music and Drama, Bucerius Law School, Hamburger Fern-Hochschule, and Kühne Logistics University.

A Visit to the Historic Sailing Ship PEKING

After 34 voyages around Cape Horn, 2 world wars, and several transformations—first as a boarding school ship and later as a museum in New York—the PEKING returned to its home port in Hamburg in 2017. Following extensive restoration work, this historic 4-masted barque is now open to visitors. Several smaller groups of Deutschlandstipendium scholarship holders and sponsors took advantage of the opportunity to learn fascinating details about the ship’s history and engineering from an experienced sailor. 

Introduction to German Sign Language

Around 200,000 people in Germany use German Sign Language; about 80,000 of them are deaf (source: Bundesfachstelle Barrierefreiheit). Britta Harms and Alexander Eisenzimmer, both research associates and certified sign language interpreters at the University of Hamburg, led a workshop where scholarship recipients practiced basic sign language and got a feel for nonverbal communication. Due to strong interest, another introductory sign language course will be offered in Winter Semester 2024/25.  

With 10 years of success in funding students, the University of Hamburg welcomed 329 new recipients of the Deutschlandstipendium at a ceremony on 19 February. The scholarship program’s anniversary event was titled “All Hands on Deck: Taking Responsibility for the Future Together” and emphasized the importance of commitment to society and academia.

“Diversity is important for excellent research,” said Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren, president of the University of Hamburg, in his speech to the program’s scholarship holders, sponsors, and alumni invited to the event, emphasizing that 26 percent of the recipients are international students. The Deutschlandstipendium’s significance goes far beyond financial support. “It creates bridges between the generations,” said Heekeren. Acknowledging the social commitment of the scholarship holders, the University of Hamburg president said, “We must work together for the common good, preserve the values of our society, preserve democracy.”

With 329 scholarships awarded, the program recorded an increase of almost 20 percent on the previous year. More than 86 funders—including businesses, foundations, associations and private individuals—have contributed to almost €6.5 million being paid out without deductions to committed and talented students since 2015. Caroline Lahusen, director of the Alexander Gruner Stiftung, put it in a nutshell, saying that “We need your commitment today more than ever.” Funders, scholarship holders, and alumni took the opportunity to exchange ideas and network at the reception that followed in the Besenbinderhof.