For the third year in a row, tele.ring, a mobile communications brand of T-Mobile Austria, and Sony Ericsson called upon Austrian students to participate in the Bessermacher competition in 2011. The aim of the competition is to develop a mobile communications concept for the future. The best ten out of 200 teams competed against each other with their ideas before the Bessermacher jury in the grand finale on June 17. First prize was a trip to Australia. Second and third-place winners received paid internships at tele.ring and Sony Ericsson as well as cell phones. A five-member team from FH Johanneum, University of Applied Sciences, won the competition, winning the jury over with an innovative rate plan and an excellent advertising concept. The winning concept was included in the tele.ring plan portfolio.

CR Report from the previous year

As part of the Takeoffs project, which was launched in September 2011, 15 employees shared their expertise with future entrepreneurs. They had the opportunity to submit their business concepts to win a grant. 343 applicants—144 of which were women—submitted a wide range of ideas, from starting up a soap factory to selling hybrid cars. 42 local and two national projects received prizes valued at CZK 7 million, or EUR 280,355. The national prizes went to a tandem bike rental company and a skateboard manufacturer. Not only are the winners given financial support, they are also equipped with telecommunications packages, smartphones and laptops and given tips on how to develop their sales strategy.

T-HT Hrvatski Telekom sponsors the country's best up-and-coming electrical engineers each year during their last year of study. Six students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (FER) in Zagreb received grants for the 2011/2012 study year. Experts from the Croatian subsidiary are also available to mentor the students. They also give guest lectures at partner universities.

Step into Life Campaign grants.
T-HT Hrvatski Telekom joined the Zagreb Kaptol Rotary Club's Step into Life Campaign in 2011 and committed to support five scholarship holders during their regular program of study with a monthly grant of HRK 1,600 (EUR 211). The Rotary Club organized the campaign for four years in a row. The campaign supports people who left children's homes or foster homes early and therefore did not receive any higher education.

CR Report from the previous year 

Six students received support in 2011 under T-Systems Slovakia's grant program, which was established in 2010. The grant is organized in collaboration with the Carpathian Foundation and is addressed at students on technical degree courses who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and exhibit above-average performance. Grant recipients must also be involved in volunteer activities. The aim of the grant is to make it possible for young people from Eastern Slovakia to get an education while also increasing the number of qualified engineers in the country. Each recipient is given EUR 1,400 a year as well as advice on their chosen path.