The Hamburger Hauptschulmodell received the 2005 Carl Bertelsmann Prize on September 8, 2005. Business leader and program founder Dr. Michael Otto accepted the prize and its award of €150,000 from Liz Mohn, vice-chair of the Bertelsmann Stiftung Executive Board, on behalf of the program’s network of over 60 Hamburg businesses and 109 participating schools.

The foundation hopes the prize will spark new discussion in the education policy debate and draw attention to innovative approaches that effectively support disadvantaged students as they make the difficult transition to the working world. The idea for the Carl Bertelsmann Prize originated with its founder, Reinhard Mohn. Today it represents a continuation of the long-standing social commitment of the Bertelsmann and Mohn families. Since 1988, the Bertelsmann Stiftung has bestowed the prize annually to nations, institutions or businesses that stand out for their exemplary responses to pressing sociopolitical concerns.

Project start date: December 1, 2004