How can we get more children and young people interested in maths, IT, science and technology and sponsor them in the long term? This question was addressed by 105 representatives from education, business, politics and administration at the "MINT in Mind" conference in Mönchengladbach.
At the community centre "Das Westend", they discussed how existing offers can be better interlinked and new target groups can be reached. The focus was on closer cooperation between schools, universities, companies, local authorities and extracurricular learning centres.
The conference was opened by Julia Schienke ("Das Westend") and Michael Heber, Vice President for Studies and Teaching Education at The Hochschule Niederrhein.
Networking as the key
The participants analysed existing programmes and developed new approaches for STEM promotion in workshops, specialist presentations and discussion rounds. One of the key findings was that there are already numerous programmes in the region, but they have often not been sufficiently interlinked to date.
In future, cooperation should be made more binding. Companies in particular could be more closely involved, for example through practical orientation projects, cooperation with schools or additional learning opportunities outside of the classroom.
Focus on educational equality
Another specialisation was on children and young people who have so far found it difficult to benefit from educational opportunities, for example due to social disadvantage or a migrant background. The aim is to improve access to STEM subjects and create greater educational equality.
Region well positioned - but with challenges
In a panel discussion, Prof. Dr Michael Heber (The Hochschule Niederrhein), Mönchengladbach's Mayor Felix Heinrichs, Markus Lewitzki (Smart City project), Prof. Dr Axel Plünnecke (Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft) and Elmar Schmitz (Ministry of Culture and Science NRW) exchanged views on the future of STEM education. They all agreed that the region already has a strong network. It is now crucial to secure these structures in the long term, especially after the public funding programme ends.
"STEM education is a crucial key to the future viability of our region. It is our joint task to open up prospects in science, technology and the skilled trades sector to young people at an early age. From heating installers to technology professors, we need people everywhere who can develop and implement technical solutions to our challenges," says Professor Dr Michael Heber, Vice President for Studies and Teaching Education at HSNR.
Initiatives showcase their work
At the "Market of Opportunities", 13 initiatives presented their projects, including the zdi centres from Mönchengladbach, the Rhine district of Neuss, Krefeld and Viersen, the JuniorUni Mönchengladbach, NEW AG and the Centre for Digital Learning Worlds Krefeld. The HSNR was also represented with its service-learning programmes such as the Food and Nutrition Labs of the Faculty of Food and Nutrition Sciences. They provided insights into existing programmes and invited visitors to exchange ideas.
"Our aim is to bring the regional players together. The players need to know each other and be able to refer to each other. This is the only way we can really utilise the existing potential," explains Dr Monika Eigenstetter, head of the MINT in Mind joint project and professor at HSNR.
New MINT prize for inclusive education projects
As part of the conference, the David Andreas Bergens Prize was awarded in memory of the dedicated entrepreneur. In future, the prize will recognise extracurricular STEM projects that are particularly aimed at children and young people from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
The prize money amounts to 500 euros. Schools, youth centres and voluntary initiatives can apply. Innovative, cliché-free and long-term effective projects are welcome. The deadline for applications is 30 September. Enquiries can be sent to mint-in-mind(at)hsnr.de.
As an entrepreneur and networker, David-Andreas Bergens is particularly committed to supporting young people and founded the WorXademy in 2023 in cooperation with the zdi in the district of Viersen - a school laboratory with innovative learning spaces for STEM education.
About "MINT in Mind"
The "MINT in Mind" cluster was sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research from 2020 to 2025. To ensure that the network remains active, the event was organised by The Hochschule Niederrhein in the context of the Third Mission, the Centre for Digital Learning Worlds of the City of Krefeld, the City of Mönchengladbach with its WFMG, the Regional Agency Mittlerer Niederrhein and the zdi centres Mönchengladbach and KReMINTec in Krefeld.
