396 students from across Bavaria applied this year. Following a three-stage selection process, 38 of them were offered a place on the current intake of the Bavarian Elite Academy. Only four of them are enrolled at a university of applied sciences. One of them is Matthias Scharpf, who is studying International Relations and Management at OTH Regensburg. This makes OTH Regensburg one of the few universities of applied sciences represented in this cohort of the Bavarian Elite Academy.
For Matthias Scharpf, this success is also down to his motto: “I tackle things and put them into practice when I feel I can make a positive contribution. Spending too much time mulling over why something might not work just holds you back.”
A change of perspective through experience abroad
He also felt that his experience abroad had been a key factor in the selection process. During his integrated study semester at Libertas International University in Zagreb and his work placement semester in Kenya and Malawi, he learnt to work in different social and economic contexts and to view challenges from a new perspective. “That’s where I learnt to adapt quickly to new situations and to stay calm even when things can’t be planned in advance. That really helped me during the selection process,” says Matthias Scharpf.
He found the third round of the application process particularly challenging. “Clichés don’t help. What matters is being able to look at problems from different perspectives, develop solutions and justify decisions. This also includes having the courage to adjust a decision if the circumstances suddenly change,” says the future scholarship holder at the Bayerische EliteAkademie.
A varied degree programme changes one’s perspective on challenges
The fact that Matthias Scharpf takes on responsibility has also been noted by the lecturers on his degree programme at OTH Regensburg. Prof. Dr Julia Hartmann, Professor of Work and Organisational Psychology at OTH Regensburg, got to know him through several courses:“In project management, Matthias Scharpf took charge of a team of six, demonstrating his ability to take responsibility and motivate others. I find him to be a thoughtful and critical student who contributes to the discussion.”
Matthias Scharpf’s bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Management has also shaped his journey so far and encouraged him to apply to the Bavarian Elite Academy. He finds it particularly exciting that the degree programme combines various disciplines. This enables students to learn to view problems from different academic perspectives.
Engagement that makes a difference
Outside the lecture theatre, Matthias Scharpf has been committed to international cooperation for several years. He sits on the board of the Munich-based Christian Liebig Foundation and supports educational projects in Malawi based on the principle of helping people to help themselves. He is also involved with the Liberating Education Organisation, which is setting up hybrid education centres in East Africa and India and providing young adults with access to entrepreneurship education.
For the prospective scholarship holder, admission to the Bavarian Elite Academy is, above all, an opportunity to continue on this path. “I am interested in how international cooperation can help to solve societal challenges.”
Every year, the Bavarian Elite Academy supports particularly committed students at Bavarian universities and higher education institutions. The two-year programme includes seminars, mentoring, stays abroad and opportunities to engage with leading figures from the worlds of academia, business and society.
