An A in the exam or winning a competition: The continuing education scholarship is made for the best young talents of a profession. Those applying successfully have at their disposal thousands of euros for seminars, courses and continuing education measures.
Somebody may be good at his or her job, but they realise, that they could be even better, that what he or she does at present may not be enough for job satisfaction in 20 years. Yet no funds are available for continuing education, which often requires the investment of huge sums in addition to the loss of income.
In the event of such an occupational predicament, the Continuing Education Scholarship from the Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung (Foundation Scholarships for the Outstanding Vocational Education) can help. Young people in gainful employment can use the scholarship to finance continuing education courses, computer and language courses or courses teaching rhetoric and presentation techniques and in part also extra-occupational study courses.
In the context of the scholarship, for instance, medical assistants receive continuing education to qualify as nutritionists, insurance salesmen qualify as business economists. The preparation for a master craftsman, technician or business administrator examination is likewise funded. Also, the scholarship students can apply for additional allowances for travel expenses or material for their work.
The scholarship programme is part of the federal government's Scholarships for the Outstanding programme, that is, not everybody, but the particularly well qualified young talent are to be supported by this instrument. The application process therefore requires applicants to have passed their vocational training exam with a minimum of 87 of 100 points or an average mark of better than 2.0 (B). Equally, the best three participants in cross-regional occupational performance competitions can be accepted for a scholarship. Another possibility is for applicants to be recommended by their employer or vocational school.
Applicants can submit their documents and certificates at the respective chambers (that is, the professional bodies of the respective profession, such as, for example, the chambers of industry and commerce) or at corresponding public service institutions. For professions in the health industry, the Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung itself is responsible.
Those who are accepted can claim benefits of 6,000 Euro over a period of up to three years for various measures of continuing education. Scholarship holders are required to pay a personal contribution of 10 per cent per respective course.