11 February is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The United Nations has been organising this day of action since 2015 to strengthen the equal participation of women and girls in science education, research and technology worldwide. The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) uses this day to publicise its commitment to equal opportunities and to get young people interested in studies, research and practical applications at an early age.
A central element is participation in the nationwide Girls' and Boys' Day on 23 April 2026. With a total of 24 offers at the Krefeld and Mönchengladbach campuses, HSNR is offering more formats this year than ever before. Around 250 pupils will gain insights into Degree programmes, research projects and professional fields beyond traditional role models.
The focus is particularly on promoting girls in subject areas in which women have been underrepresented to date. On Girls' Day, pupils aged 13 and over learn about technical, scientific and engineering degree programmes in a practical orientation.
In the workshop "Discover the world of robotics and artificial intelligence - in the HSNR AI lab" (10:00-15:00) organised by the Faculty of Industrial Engineering, a real industrial robot is programmed. The participants experiment, optimise processes and creatively document their project in a short video. Technology, teamwork and creativity are ideally combined here.
From 09:00 to 12:00, the workshop "Enamelling - Great surfaces between technology and art" at the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science shows how versatile enamel coatings are. After an introduction to the foundation courses, participants will put their knowledge into practice. The self-made piece of jewellery can be taken home as a souvenir.
The HSNR also participates in Boys' Day with a variety of formats. Offers in the Faculties of Design, Oecotrophology, Social Sciences, Textile and Clothing Technology, Health Care as well as the Library and the Human Resources Department are open to pupils. This gives boys the opportunity to familiarise themselves with professions and fields of study in which women have predominantly worked to date.
In the workshop "Make yourself strong - what's in your body?" (09:00-13:00) at the Faculty of Food and Nutrition Sciences, participants experience how nutrition and lifestyle affect the body. Interactive measurements and simulations, such as on ageing, provide practical insights into the field of ecotrophology.
From 09:00 to 15:00, "From Trash to Treasure - Fashion and Textile Design" shows how individual products are created from car seatbelts, lorry tarpaulins and advertising banners. The young people design and make their own bags or key rings. In doing so, they learn about sustainable design processes in a practical orientation.
With its Girls' and Boys' Day programmes, The Hochschule Niederrhein pursues a central goal: to break down clichés in career and study choices and to promote a diverse, equal-opportunity educational and working environment for all genders.
An overview of the programmes with a link to registration can be found at the following link: www.hs-niederrhein.de/gleichstellung/girls-boys-day/
