Sep 11, 2024
Digital and STEM-friendly teaching – A contribution to securing skilled workers: TU Dresden celebrates dedicated schools
Today, on September 10, 2024, TUD Dresden University of Technology awarded nine schools from Saxony the title of STEM-Friendly School and eight schools the title of Digital School. This award from the nationwide initiative “MINT Zukunft schaffen” (Creating a STEM-friendly future) recognizes the commitment of school principals and teachers in Saxony who are proactively advancing modern and future-oriented school education in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Prof. Michael Kobel, Vice Rector Academic Affairs at TUD, praised this commitment in his welcome speech and emphasized, “I would like to convey my utmost respect and gratitude to the award-winning schools. Dedicated leadership teams and teachers are behind the success of these schools. With their creativity and time, they instill in their students a fascination for science and technology, as well as skills relevant to the challenges of our time.”
Wilfried Kühner, Office Head of the State Ministry of Education, Prof. Christoph Meinel, Board Member of “MINT Zukunft schaffen”, and Benjamin Gesing, Managing Director of MINT Zukunft e.V. presented the certificates, which are valid for a period of three years, to the schools at an official ceremony. The award is sponsored by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) and the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, Dr. Volker Wissing.
Inspiring a passion for STEM in schools at an early age
As a scientific institution, TUD actively promotes STEM education projects with a view to securing young, promising talent and tackling the shortage of skilled workers. This also includes the university's involvement as a founding member of the newly established Network Energy Talents (NET) initiative to promote young talent in STEM subjects.
TU Dresden has been stepping up its collaboration with schools for several years, including with the Gymnasium Dresden-Gorbitz, which won an award today. TUD is equally active as a sponsor in national school networks as well as in setting up its own collaborative school network. TUD Vice Rector Kobel explained, “At TU Dresden, we are thrilled to support these schools by making it possible for all age groups to experience current research in both our labs and at school. In this way, we help to inspire enthusiasm and interest in STEM subject at an early age and maintain this essential interest throughout school. As a university, we would of course be delighted to attract pupils from STEM-friendly and digital schools to study these subjects and thus alleviate the demand for STEM specialists.”
During the award ceremony, TU Dresden showcased unique selling points with information stands and presented its initiatives for school classes, including school modules by the Cluster of Excellence Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI) and its extensive portfolio of learning labs and workshops at the faculties.
More information:
Contact:
Nadja Bauer
TU Dresden
Central Point of Contact for Schools
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