Institutions
Accenture Foundation
Accenture, the leading business innovation consultancy, founded Accenture Foundation in 2003 to strengthen its social and scientific commitment in Germany. A primary aim of the foundation is to support young people in the areas of education, research and science, underscoring Accenture Foundation’s belief that innovation is of central significance for the future of society. Accenture Foundation is one of two initiative partners with whom SDW is building up the Studienkompass programme. The aim of the three foundations with this programme is to assist pupils at an early stage in their individual educational and career orientation.
Educational Institution of the North Rhine-Westphalia Business Association
The not-for-profit Educational Institution of the North Rhine-Westphalia Business Association, which was founded in 1971 by the Employers’Associations of North Rhine-Westphalia, is a recognised educational institution according to the Continuing Education Act. Its offering includes seminars and publications on social, economic and sociopolitical issues and is directed towards all individuals who wish to take courses to continue their education, whether their motivation is private or profession. It also offers seminars for works council representatives as well as for the professional and management training of specialist and management personnel. The educational institution is affiliated with the Study Circle School/Business, which offers, among other things, various practice-oriented projects for pupils from all of the different school forms. The Educational Institution of the North Rhine-Westphalia Business Association provides scholarships for recipients from North Rhine-Westphalia in various training courses.
Federal Ministry for Education and Research
The Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) is a very important partner for SDW in almost all fields of work. BMBF provides the major part of the funding for the Klaus Murmann Fellowship Programme (Studienförderwerk) and the Studienkolleg – SDW`s new fellowship programme for students training to be teachers. Moreover, for many years BMBF has repeatedly been a sponsor and partner of various SDW projects focusing on schools. Federal Education Minister Dr. Annette Schavan has assumed patronage for the new educational and career guidance programme Studienkompass. BMBF is also funding the academic supervision of the programme.
Deutsche Bank Foundation
The Deutsche Bank Foundation, founded in 1987, is active in the areas of education, facilitating solutions to social problems, music and art. The foundation concentrates on educational projects at the interface of business and society that aim to help young people to recognise and use their potential. The goal of all foundation activity is to support people in growing beyond themselves – to enable them to turn their talents into capabilities, and to draw sustainable impulses for society from individual commitments. With the Alfred Herrhausen fund “Helping People to Help Themselves”, the foundation supports disadvantaged youth and helps people in emergency situations. In addition, the foundation provides fast and unbureaucratic aid in cases of catastrophe. The Deutsche Bank Foundation is also initiative partner in the Studienkompass programme, which since the spring of 2007 is being built up under the auspices of SDW.
European Union
With financing from the European Social Fund, the EU is supporting the project "Creating comprehensive schools – Cooperation creates the future". Within the framework of this project, school administrations and teachers will be supported in anchoring new concepts for vocational orientation in school programmes. Via the EU joint initiative INTERREG III A, a promotion programme for regional development, the European Union is also contributing substantially to our School & Business project "SCHULE WIRTSCHAFT Euregios". The goal of this project is to give young people from inner-European border regions a cross-border career perspective.
Heinz Nixdorf Foundation
The Heinz Nixdorf Foundation originated from the estate of entrepreneur Heinz Nixdorf as a not-for-profit and independent foundation. It regards its main tasks as supporting initial and continuing vocational training, science in research and teaching, free democratic society including in particular social market economy, and public health. Together with the Heinz Nixdorf Foundation, SDW has developed the project "The challenge of entrepreneurship", the primary aim of which is to inspire young people with the topic "entrepreneurship" and to activate entrepreneurial potential which has remained undiscovered until now.
NORDMETALL Foundation
The NORDMETALL Foundation was founded in the beginning of 2004 by the NORDMETALL Employers’ Association. The major focus of its commitment is on education, research and science. In particular, it realises projects involving education and further training in the fields of mathematics, science and technology as well as research and teaching in Northern Germany. Furthermore, the foundation also initiates and supports cultural and social projects. Together with the NORDMETALL Foundation, SDW implements the innovative mentor programme "MINToring" in northern Germany. The goal of this programme is to encourage more pupils to begin university studies in science or technology.
Robert Bosch Foundation
The Robert Bosch Foundation is one of the major corporate foundations in Germany. It owns 92 percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH. It was founded in 1964 to continue the philanthropic endeavours of Robert Bosch (1861-1942), company and foundation founder. Its engagement is focused on science, health, international understanding, education, society and culture. Together with the Robert Bosch Foundation, SDW is currently building up the Studienkolleg, a fellowship programme for talented students who are training to become teachers. In addition, the Robert Bosch Foundation funds the School & Business project "SCHULE WIRTSCHAFT Euregios".