At a time when the shortage of skilled workers in the fields of science and technology is becoming increasingly apparent, it is a positive sign that 350 up-and-coming mathematicians from North Rhine-Westphalia have qualified for the Mathematics Olympiad this school year. At the end of February, the district of Kleve hosted the 64th state round, with Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) co-organising the event alongside the Collegium Augustinianum Gaesdonck in Goch.
In the morning, the pupils demonstrated their knowledge in written examinations lasting several hours, tackling challenging proof problems in the fields of geometry, algebra, inequalities, number theory and combinatorics. In the afternoon, the up-and-coming talents were guests at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, where they put their enthusiasm for mathematics into practice.
The visit to HSRW served as an inspiring conclusion to an exciting day. As part of a varied programme of activities, the young mathematicians explored applied sciences in the fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology (MINT) at HSRW. In the university’s modern laboratories, the pupils were able to experience innovative projects and experiments first-hand and try them out for themselves; in other words, mathematics in practice, which vividly demonstrated how mathematical theories can be applied in technical and biological contexts.
“One of the zdi Centre’s tasks is to forge links between universities and schools and to spark an interest in STEM subjects. From an educational perspective, experiential learning has proven effective in this regard. Through age-appropriate activities, it fosters self-confidence, teamwork and problem-solving skills by enabling practical experiences in authentic and adventurous contexts. It engages the body, mind and emotions – in other words, the whole person – making learning not only fun, but also more lasting and profound,” says Phyllis Ndugire, project coordinator at the zdi Centre in Kleve.
To this end, the organising team – comprising dedicated students, staff and lecturers, zdi representatives and external partners – had included a whole range of unusual activities in the supporting programme alongside games and sports. The aim was to show the pupils that university life is more than just dry studying; that it also involves a great deal of fun in learning, detective work and successfully tackling challenges.
The pupils with a talent for maths were able to visit Kleve Zoo, escape from an escape room or take part in outdoor games in the Forstgarten. Activities also included bouldering, kickboxing, taking part in a knowledge rally or driving a battery-powered electric go-kart. Practical laboratory workshops were also on the programme, such as soldering and programming, food production, building robot fish, digital manufacturing and rocket building. From a traditional maths lecture on machine learning and brain-computer interfaces to exploring the aesthetics of mathematics and discussions on climate change, there was something for every pupil.
To round off the event, the young mathematicians gathered with their parents in the Audimax, the university’s largest lecture theatre. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Kisters, Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Transfer, thanked the pupils on behalf of the university’s Executive Board for their visit and encouraged them to continue pursuing their passion for STEM subjects: “I’ve come away with very positive impressions of this Olympiad, having seen so many young people in whom I’ve recognised myself. That gives me hope that we’ll find enough talent for STEM careers.” The Central Student Advisory Service rounded off the ‘lecture’ in the lecture theatre with an interactive quiz that provided an insight into studying at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences.
The event at HSRW was also made possible thanks to funding from the Ministry of Culture and Science (MKW) of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as generous donations from Sparkasse Rhein-Maas, Spectro and the Lower Rhine Business Association. Once again, the day highlighted the relevance and versatility of mathematics in science and society. As a young and innovative university, HSRW places a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary and application-oriented research in STEM education. By taking part in the Maths Olympiad, HSRW aims to help inspire some students to pursue a STEM degree, for example at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences.
Background
The Mathematics Olympiad is one of the largest school competitions for pupils in Years 5 to 13 in Germany. This year, the North Rhine-Westphalia regional round was organised by the Landesverband Mathematikwettbewerbe Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. and the zdi-Zentrum Kreis Kleve cleverMINT at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. Of the original 17,000 or so young people from across North Rhine-Westphalia, 350 pupils ultimately reached the final stage of this year’s state round at the end of February, following the school and district rounds. The awards ceremony for the 150 top pupils in Years 5 to 13 will take place on Saturday 22 March at the Collegium Augustinianum Gaesdonck in Goch. The team that will represent North Rhine-Westphalia at the national round of the Maths Olympiad in May 2025 in the university town of Göttingen will also be announced there.
