+ Education
Knowledge is a prerequisite for innovation and progress. Merck therefore actively invests in aspiring young scientists. We would like to present a few of our activities designed to promote talented students interested in science.
ChinaMerck China implemented a CSR Fund Scholarship program in 2010 to contribute to the advancement of China’s scientific expertise. The 5-year program launched at 20 universities across China is designed to help gifted underprivileged students to successfully finish their studies and become a vital part of China’s health industry.
GermanyIn order to support and promote aspiring scientific talent, especially in the natural sciences, together with the “Jugend forscht” Foundation, Merck has been hosting the state finals of “Jugend forscht” (young researchers’ competition) at the Darmstadt site in Germany since 16 years. During the two-day event, young people under the age of 21 present projects they have prepared and researched themselves in seven fields of natural science, mathematics and engineering. A jury of scientists, engineers and teachers decides which students are to advance to the national finals in Kiel. Apart from organizing the event Merck also funds many prizes for the winners among the aspiring young scientists.
Additionally Merck has been supporting about 40 schools in the region surrounding Darmstadt and Gernsheim for many years. The company provides not only the materials for chemistry and biology classes, but also offers teachers practical workshops and school classes exciting daytrips to Merck. Apart from a tour of the site, the students also have the possibility to meet scientists working in different areas, thereby gaining personal and practical insights into daily working life at Merck. Apart from these activities, Merck also cooperates with six partner schools. Within the scope of these school partnerships, science teachers receive extensive support for science classes.
Merck has been running the Junior Laboratory together with the Technical University of Darmstadt since 2008. In these new rooms on the campus of the university, over 200 square meters are available to students from elementary to high school. Here, they can work on their own experiments and get to know the world of chemistry under the guidance of university staff as well as university students studying Chemistry. In the last year, 3,100 students visited the laboratory and conducted experiments as part of seminars, project and excursion days as well as during school vacation periods.
IndiaThe Merck India Charitable Trust helps talented, excellent students to continue their education beyond the tenth grade. Since 2005, interested young people, whose parents earn less than INR 120,000 (around EUR 2,200) per year, have been applying for the 25 scholarships offered by the Merck subsidiary in India every year. A scholarship from the Trust covers school and tuition fees, which form the bulk of their expenses; nearly 170 students have benefited to date. The intention is to give talented young people from poor families the opportunity to further pursue their dream of completing higher education and becoming world-class professionals.
JapanIn cooperation with Germany’s central office for German schools abroad, the Goethe Institute, the German Academic Exchange Service, and the German Pedagogic Exchange Service of the Educations Ministers Conference, Merck is supporting the so-called Pasch school project in Japan. Within the scope of the Pasch project, which is an initiative by the German Foreign Office, 1,500 partner schools are working together globally. It enables interested students from around the world to get to know Germany, its language, economy, science and culture more closely. Merck is supporting four Pasch schools in Japan. The cooperation gave students from the four schools the opportunity to visit Merck in Meguro, Japan, and to speak to some of the German employees in summer 2010.
PakistanAs the only multinational and the largest company in Quetta, Merck wanted to help upgrade the educational facilities in the poorest province of the country. A donation by Merck was made through the charitable “Citizen Foundation” for the construction of a primary and a secondary school from grade 1 to 10 and one high school from grades 11 to 12, which will accommodate around 1300 students.
Since 2005 Merck also supports the SOS children’s village in Quetta. Merck has donated the necessary furniture and covers educational expenses. The village offers the children not only a home, but also the opportunity to receive an education.
ThailandTogether with the charitable “Raks Thai Foundation”, the Merck subsidiary in Thailand is supporting underpriviledged families and communities in the poorest regions of the country. Merck provides not only funding for individual projects in the northern, northeastern and southern part of Thailand, but also actively involves its employees. In order to improve the living conditions in local communities, Merck employees organize events and smaller projects themselves in order to support the local population. For example, Merck in Thailand supports a school close to the company premises. Overall, more than 15,000 people in the region benefit from this commitment and cooperation. The “Raks Thai Foundation” is part of CARE International, one of the world’s largest development and aid organizations.
