To live a life in dignity, every human being must have the opportunity to develop his or her personality through non-discriminatory access to the best possible education.

In Germany, however, it is a fact that education continues to be primarily a question of social background. Today, 83 percent of all children whose parents went to university go on to university as well, while only 23 percent of children from families without a tradition of higher education do likewise.

The Roland Berger Foundation wants to help create greater equality in educational opportunities for talented young people in Germany. In 2009, the "Fit for responsibility" scholarship program was launched in four model regions: Upper Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg and the Ruhr Area. The first scholarships were awarded to 160 children and young.

Roland Berger Foundation's new FairTalent scholarship program, made possible by Deutsche Bank and based on the successful "Fit for responsibility" program, is being offered in three German states: Hesse, Saxony and Thuringia. The application period from February to April 2010 has finished. After the consideration of the applications the scolars will be admitted as of July 1, 2010.

The program includes language instruction, seminars, summer academic programs, internships and one-on-one guidance through a network of volunteer mentors in the relevant regions. The Roland Berger Foundation also supports its scholarship recipients financially with subsidies for tutoring, class trips and study materials. Furthermore, students receive support in the form of financial and physical resources for study-related needs, up to and including their tuition fees.