Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences has renewed its cooperation agreement with the Wesel District Education Authority. The shared aim is to promote STEM skills amongst young people of all ages and, in the long term, to strengthen the pool of future skilled workers at a regional level.
Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences aims to use creative approaches to conduct academic research that is accessible, tangible and relatable to the general public. It is intended to serve both as the starting point and as an integral part of a social education model that takes into account all aspects of a person’s educational journey – from nursery school right through to professional development. The renewal of the cooperation agreement between Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, the Wesel District Education Authority and its specialist team recently marked an important step in this direction, aimed above all at jointly promoting STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) amongst pupils of all age groups and, in doing so, to strengthen the next generation of skilled workers at a regional level in the long term.
“Mutual exchange between the university and society is a task that is particularly close to my heart and to which I therefore wish to devote a great deal of attention,” explains President Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen. The signing of the new agreements has now laid an important foundation. “The university is not an ivory tower, but is open to the public,” emphasises District Administrator Dr Ansgar Müller. By opening up the university, young people’s interest in scientific topics can be sparked at an early age. The partnership focuses on implementing the “Haus der kleinen Forscher” programme in the district’s primary schools, providing high-quality teaching materials on loan free of charge, and delivering training in digital manufacturing. This includes both the organisation of training events and specialist conferences, as well as the establishment of a network of schools that run their own high-tech digital workshops – known as FabLabs. With this latter initiative, the cooperation partners are playing a pioneering role across the state. “Our collaboration and the new School FabLab network serve as a prime example for the whole of North Rhine-Westphalia,” explained school inspector Nicole Wardenbach and zdi coordinator Dr Martin Kreymann, not without a sense of pride.
