ZIS Stiftung für Studienreisen

The ZIS Stiftung für Studienreisen (zis) is a non-profit foundation under German civil law (gemeinnützige Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) based in Salem in the Bodenseekreis district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It awards scholarships to young people between the ages of 16 and 20, enabling them to undertake independent study trips abroad. The foundation's work is strongly influenced by experiential education (Erlebnispädagogik). In its publications and logo, the foundation writes its name in lowercase as "zis". The core of the programme is a scholarship currently worth 800 euros (as of 2026). Recipients must travel abroad alone, on a self-chosen study topic, with only this modest budget. Three months after returning, they submit a study report, a diary, and an accounting of the scholarship funds to a jury of volunteer staff. Outstanding projects are recognised with book or cash prizes. The foundation may also nominate successful scholarship holders for a selection seminar of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes). Applications are open to young people of all genders from all countries; school grades and educational background play no role. The foundation is housed in the premises of Schule Schloss Salem, with which it shares many pedagogical convictions. The idea behind zis scholarships originated in France. The architect and later industrialist Jean Walter (1883–1957) undertook a solo bicycle journey to Istanbul as a young man, which he later regarded as formative for his personal development and professional success. After acquiring wealth, he began offering private scholarships for character-building adventure travel from 1939. After the Second World War, he established the Fondation Zellidja in France, named after a deposit site in North Africa, to give other young people similar experiences. In 1956, the concept was brought to Germany by Marina Ewald, then a teacher at Salem. In its early years, an important goal—alongside promoting international understanding—was reconciliation between the former wartime enemies Germany and France. The scholarship programme was initially supported by the Conference of Internationally-minded Schools (CIS), a global association of schools committed to progressive education, which gave rise to the name "CIS scholarships". After the German Society for European Education temporarily served as the ideal sponsor and the name CIS had to be abandoned for trademark reasons, a sponsoring association was founded in 1976, initially called "ZIS – Zusammenarbeit Internationale Studienreisenstipendien", later "Europäische Organisation für Reisestudienstipendien ZIS e. V.". Liane Wuttig (1916–2007) took over the chair in 1977 and held it for decades. Hanne Bauer (1918–2000), who worked in Salem, became general secretary. In 2002, the sponsoring association was dissolved and the non-profit zis Stiftung für Studienreisen was founded with personnel continuity among the volunteers. The foundation charter was handed over by the then regional president of the Tübingen administrative district, Hubert Wicker, on the campus of Schule Schloss Salem in Überlingen-Härlen to the last chairman of the ZIS association, Klaus Pfaff (1935–2008), as well as to the founding chairman of the newly formed foundation council, Eberhard Leitz, and the chairman of the new foundation board, Bernhard Bueb. The foundation's initial capital was 150,000 Deutsche Mark, intended by the founders to sustainably finance the scholarship programme. In 2021, the foundation had capital of around 390,000 euros. In addition, the Friedrich-Karl-Klausing-Stiftung was established in May 2008 on the private initiative of two donors. It is a dependent sub-foundation. Its namesake is Friedrich Karl Klausing (1920–1944), who is counted among the resistance fighters of 20 July 1944.

The idea of the zis scholarships originated in France. The architect and later industrialist Jean Walter (1883–1957) undertook a solo bicycle journey to Istanbul as a young man, which he later regarded as formative for his personal development and professional success. After acquiring wealth, he began offering private scholarships for character-building adventure travel from 1939. After the Second World War, he established the Fondation Zellidja in France, named after a deposit site in North Africa, to give other young people similar experiences. In 1956, the concept was brought to Germany by Marina Ewald, then a teacher at Salem. In its early years, an important goal—alongside promoting international understanding—was reconciliation between the former wartime enemies Germany and France. The scholarship programme was initially supported by the Conference of Internationally-minded Schools (CIS), a global association of schools committed to progressive education, which gave rise to the name "CIS scholarships". After the German Society for European Education temporarily served as the ideal sponsor and the name CIS had to be abandoned for trademark reasons, a sponsoring association was founded in 1976, initially called "ZIS – Zusammenarbeit Internationale Studienreisenstipendien", later "Europäische Organisation für Reisestudienstipendien ZIS e. V.". Liane Wuttig (1916–2007) took over the chair in 1977 and held it for decades. Hanne Bauer (1918–2000), who worked in Salem, became general secretary. In 2002, the sponsoring association was dissolved and the non-profit zis Stiftung für Studienreisen was founded with personnel continuity among the volunteers. The foundation charter was handed over by the then regional president of the Tübingen administrative district, Hubert Wicker, on the campus of Schule Schloss Salem in Überlingen-Härlen to the last chairman of the ZIS association, Klaus Pfaff (1935–2008), as well as to the founding chairman of the newly formed foundation council, Eberhard Leitz, and the chairman of the new foundation board, Bernhard Bueb. The foundation's initial capital was 150,000 Deutsche Mark, intended by the founders to sustainably finance the scholarship programme. In 2021, the foundation had capital of around 390,000 euros. In addition, the Friedrich-Karl-Klausing-Stiftung was established in May 2008 on the private initiative of two donors. It is a dependent sub-foundation. Its namesake is Friedrich Karl Klausing (1920–1944), who is counted among the resistance fighters of 20 July 1944. At the founding of the sub-foundation on 10 May 2008 in Salem, Bernd Rüthers, former rector of the University of Konstanz, described Klausing, who was executed in Berlin-Plötzensee, as one of the youngest and least known conspirators of the Hitler assassination attempt. The Friedrich-Karl-Klausing-Stiftung is not intended to commit the zis foundation to a particular view of history. Young people should be encouraged to reflect on the significance of free decisions of conscience. Between 2005 and 2021, the zis Stiftung für Studienreisen regularly awarded around 30–60 scholarships per year. The selection process is handled by the jury, which also judges the submitted work. The foundation's substantive work is thus carried out on a voluntary basis. In March 2022, Rüdiger von Fritsch succeeded Bernhard Bueb as chairman of the board. Scholarships are financed from three sources: income from the foundation's capital, regular contributions from the circle of friends, and individual donations. The foundation states its annual turnover at around 90,000 euros. The most recent increase in the grant amount to 700 euros was made by the foundation board as the executive body in 2020. The scholarship amount has historically developed roughly in line with consumer prices in Germany. Differentiated funding depending on the destination country has so far been rejected by the foundation's bodies, because all young people should be offered the same opportunity and should decide for themselves what they dare to do with the uniform budget. The foundation's concept draws on experiential education. Through confrontation with the unfamiliar and being thrown back on themselves, young people are meant to have new experiences and undergo a maturing process.

• 2022

  Rüdiger von Fritsch succeeds Bernhard Bueb as chairman of the board in March.

• 2020

  The foundation board increases the scholarship amount to 700 euros.

• 2008

  The Friedrich-Karl-Klausing-Stiftung is established as a dependent sub-foundation on 10 May.

• 2002

  The sponsoring association is dissolved and the non-profit zis Stiftung für Studienreisen is founded with initial capital of 150,000 Deutsche Mark.

• 1977

  Liane Wuttig takes over the chair of the sponsoring association.

• 1976

  A sponsoring association is founded, initially named 'ZIS – Zusammenarbeit Internationale Studienreisenstipendien'.

• 1956

  Marina Ewald brings the scholarship concept to Germany at Schule Schloss Salem.

• 1939

  Jean Walter begins offering private scholarships for character-building adventure travel in France.

Non-profit experiential-education foundation offering equal-opportunity, low-budget independent travel scholarships to young people regardless of school performance, family background, or nationality.

• zis scholarship

  A scholarship of currently 800 euros for a four-week independent study trip abroad, open to young people aged 16–20 regardless of school performance, family background, or nationality.

• Study report and diary

  Scholarship holders submit a study report, a diary, and an accounting of the scholarship funds to a jury three months after returning.

• Book and cash prizes

  Outstanding projects are recognised with book or cash prizes.

• Nomination for Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes

  The foundation can nominate successful scholarship holders for a selection seminar of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation.

1. 1Start: zis Stiftung für Studienreisenzis-reisen.de
2. 2ZIS Stiftung für Studienreisen – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3ZIS Stiftung für Studienreisen – Wikidatawikidata.org