MINT in schools: Building bridges between schools and industry

Closed

The “MINT in schools” project is intended to inspire pupils with regard to MINT subjects (mathematics, information technology, natural science and technology), to network industrial companies with schools and universities, and to develop and test the innovative and ongoing didactic MINT support programme for sixth form centres (CH) and secondary schools (middle schools, Austria) in the Alpine Rhine / Lake Constance region. Pupils are essentially motivated in the long term, in that industrial companies show them specifically where MINT knowledge is useful in practice, along with the interesting professional opportunities that might result from this. Teaching staff gain practical impressions of MINT applications, enabling them to better motivate pupils. Universities and schools will jointly plan how to implement this in lessons as well as jointly optimising laboratory equipment in schools. An exchange platform will be created to network participating schools, companies and universities. In a cooperation between PH St. Gallen and PH Vorarlberg, lasting solutions are being developed to address the lack of MINT specialists. Technical experts are being brought together and networks are being expanded to better understand the local characteristics of the educational environment in the MINT areas and what is required to support their development in the long term. This development project can be integrated into the MINT initiative of the Swiss partner, which has already been launched and which supports the MINT initiative and science strategy of the state of Vorarlberg. The success of the Lake Constance economic area is based on well-educated specialists, particularly in the fields of technology and the sciences. However, pupils demonstrate little interest in science and technology as a relevant professional career. Only 9% of young people in Switzerland are planning a career as an engineer or in the ICT professions (OECD, PISA in Focus, 2012, 14). In Austria, 40% of industrial companies are having problems employing sufficient numbers of specialists in the field of technology and production, and 54% are finding it problematic to employ enough highly qualified people in research and development. There is therefore an urgent need for action. In the context of this project, a specific MINT support programme is being developed for schools, and 10 schools are being advised on an ongoing basis. The teaching staff in these schools are also being trained or further trained, close partnerships are being established with 10 industrial companies and the attitude of pupils and teaching staff is being evaluated with regard to MINT topics before and after these measures.

Medium