STEM for me

Project description

With the project "STEM for me – discover – design – follow your own path", the University of Koblenz initiated a grant programme for female students at two partner schools in the region. The cooperation partners are the Realschule plus St. Thomas Andernach and the Integrierte Gesamtschule Johanna Loewenherz Neuwied. Both schools are part of the Campus Schools network and are already cooperation schools of the Ada Lovelace Project.

Through workshops and extracurricular STEM activities, Year 6 pupils are to be specifically encouraged to choose STEM as an elective subject in middle school.

Pupils in grades 7–9 can participate in working groups led by mentors (STEM students from the University of Koblenz) and work on STEM topics that cannot be covered in class or that the pupils would like to explore in greater depth. The focus of these working groups is on the joy of doing, discovering and researching.

In addition, the students are invited to work in the university's workshops and laboratories, to participate in group visits to regional companies that are relevant to the topics they are studying, and to complete their career orientation internship in a STEM profession with the support of the project team. Particularly committed students are trained as STEM mentors. Their role is to inspire younger girls at their school to take an interest in STEM subjects, thereby ensuring the sustainability of the project.

The integration of extracurricular learning locations with the school provides the students with a low-threshold opportunity to participate in extracurricular events without having to take the initiative themselves. The aim of this support concept is to improve educational opportunities in STEM for the target group, which will achieve a low or medium level of educational attainment.

Research focus

The Computer Sciences and Educational Working Group is supporting the project in terms of quality assurance and investigating the extent to which the monoeducational offerings influence the students' career orientation. The results are expected to provide important impetus for funding for the promotion of girls in terms of practical career orientation.