Prof. Dr Bernhard Eitel, Rector of Heidelberg University, thanked the donor for his exemplary engagement. “Manfred Lautenschläger supports academia in many different ways. It is not always a question of top-flight researchers and cutting-edge research. He also takes an interest in up-coming graduates and young people at an early stage in their career,” the Rector noted.

Villa Manesse, located next to the law faculty, was rented for the “Villa HeidelPräp!” project to provide 50 workplaces for final-year law students before their exams. In order to apply for one of these places, which are granted for twelve months on a personal basis, students have to submit a detailed study and preparation plan. That also serves as a basis for the subsequent advice sessions that form the core of the mentoring programme. “This way we can offer the exam candidates an ideal mix of activities: doing things on their own responsibility, receiving individual counselling and working with fellow students who are at the same stage in their lives and their courses. On top of that, they have the opportunity to study in a calm and supportive atmosphere,” says Prof. Dr Thomas Lobinger.

“HeidelPräp!” has been running since 2007 and was developed as an exam preparation programme by Heidelberg academic Prof. Lobinger, who was awarded the Ars legendi faculty prize in 2013/2014 for outstanding university teaching in legal studies for this project. A support association is currently being founded to place the “Villa HeidelPräp!” project on a sustainable basis. Until then the Manfred Lautenschläger Foundation will provide financial support, possibly also beyond the four-year period.