STEM education

In order to help shape the challenges of technological change, the Jena City Council adopted a concept for education in the fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology, "Strengthening Jena as a STEM education region", in 2016. This provides a status report on activities in the field of science, technology and mathematics education. The necessary human and financial resources are described for twelve measures for different age and target groups. The strategy is to be regularly updated.

Witelo - Wissenschaftlich-technische Lernorte in Jena is a cooperation network for the promotion of science and technology education for children and young people in Jena. Witelo has been collecting and networking STEM education providers in the city since 2012. The witelo website and regular newsletters provide parents and other interested parties with information about STEM education initiatives and projects as well as current events such as workshops and vacation offers. witelo-mobil now also offers its own working groups for experimentation at schools, workshop boxes are lent out and workshops are held outside of school hours with schools under the title "mach-bar!" workshops outside of school hours. witelo e.V. is also the sponsor of the Jena Student Research Center.

The Student Research Center Jena has been working with research clubs at several schools since 2016. A dedicated research workshop is located in the Imaginata. On the one hand, the activities are aimed at a broad group of pupils of all ages with a basic interest. On the other hand, the research clubs offer high-quality professional support to children and young people who are interested in more in-depth research and are very willing to perform. Support and advice is also available to anyone who wants to take part in the "Jugend forscht!" competition. The Student Research Center is an initiative of the Thuringian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the Thuringian Foundation for Technology, Innovation and Research (STIFT). Both institutions, together with the city of Jena, finance the Student Research Center.

The fund supports Jena initiatives in the field of mathematics, IT, science and technology (STEM) education in order to support new ideas and further develop STEM education for children and young people in the city. A total of €25,000 is available per year.

Object of funding

• Projects in early childhood, school and extracurricular STEM education
• STEM competitions in schools and extracurricular activities

Objectives

• Promoting interest in and understanding of science and technology among children and young people
• Networking school and extracurricular education
• Supporting exemplary STEM education projects and/or
• Providing a broad and balanced range of different STEM education topics and formats

Procedure

• The STEM Education Fund is based on the General Grant Guidelines (PDF) of the City of Jena, which apply to all voluntary grants.
• Applications are submitted via the City of Jena's grants portal, for which a one-off registration is required.
• Applications under €1000 will be decided by a committee made up of experts from the field of STEM education. The Committee for Education and Culture of the Jena City Council decides on the approval of applications over €1000 on the basis of the committee's expert recommendation.
• Advice on how to apply and all documents can be obtained from the central grants advisory service.