Hamburg is seizing the opportunity not only to get young women interested in STEM training, but also to build a bridge to a future in which diversity and equality in the scientific and technical fields are not the exception, but the rule. The mint:dual programme, which is funded by the federal government, aims to address schoolgirls aged 14 to 18 individually, get them interested in technical professions and support them in their transition into training. The programme will be launched on 1 October 2024 with a kick-off event at Hamburg University of Technology.
‘Knowing from the outset what theory is needed for in practice is a strong motivator,’ says TU President Andreas Timm-Giel, aptly summarising the core of the cooperation project between the Ministry of Schools and Vocational Education (BSB), Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) and the Science & Technology Initiative (NAT). ‘We are united by the mission to give young women an attractive opportunity to discover STEM professions for themselves and get to know different career paths,’ emphasises NAT Managing Director Sabine Fernau. On site at the companies, participants can experience what a technical apprenticeship can offer them and gain experience, for example in soldering or programming. This and the personal contact with trainees and employees can be helpful when making career decisions.
A concept that has also convinced school senator and patron Ksenija Bekeris: ‘We want to attract more schoolgirls to technical professions and make educational opportunities more independent of socio-economic background’.
The following companies are taking part: Aurubis, Hamburger Energiewerke, Hamburger Hochbahn, HarbourEnergy, Lufthansa Technik, Schill+Seilacher Struktol, Siemens Energy, Stromnetz Hamburg, tesa, Trimet.
Launch event mint:dual
Tuesday, 01 October, 14:00 to 17:00
Hamburg University of Technology, Am Schwarzenberg-Campus 1, 21073 Hamburg
Further information at: www.mintdual.de
Contact: Sabine Fernau, fernau@nat.hamburg, phone 0173-8553106
Education Ministry and Vocational Training
The Ministry of Schools and Vocational Training (BSB) is responsible for state education at Hamburg's general education schools and vocational education at vocational schools. As the education authority, it is responsible for all state district schools, grammar schools, primary schools, special schools, regional education and advice centres and vocational schools in Hamburg. Numerous extracurricular educational centres in the STEM field are affiliated with the authority, such as the DESY school laboratory, the DLR_School_Lab, the MINTarium, Gut Karlshöhe, the astronomy workshop and much more.
Initiative Naturwissenschaft & Technik gGmbH
Together with universities and numerous companies, NAT has been committed to more practical relevance in STEM education since 2007. The concrete practical relevance is intended to help get more pupils interested in maths, computer science, natural sciences and technology. A network of over 100 organisations is committed to promoting STEM; the initiative is backed by an alliance of Hamburg universities, the Körber Foundation, the Ministry of Economics and Innovation, the Hamburg Technology Foundation, DESY and the Ingeborg Gross Foundation. www.nat.hamburg
Hamburg University of Technology
Developing technology for people has been one of the founding missions of the TU Hamburg since 1978. Innovation within the technical sciences is of course the primary task, but the innovation of the TU Hamburg itself is also part of the motivation and basis for the success of teaching, research, technology transfer and continuing education. Since 2003, the TU Hamburg has been the first technical university in Germany to offer a dual study programme under the title dual@TUHH. The programme combines theory at university level with practical experience in renowned companies in northern German industry. The coordination office organises events for students to exchange practical experience. This supports the successful completion of the programme.