15 Years of zdi Center investMINT Oberberg
Programming robots, exploring the forest, conducting experiments - since its establishment in February 2011, the zdi Center investMINT Oberberg has pursued a clear goal: to inspire young people early on for STEM topics and to showcase career opportunities, thus strengthening the region's skilled labor base. As part of the state initiative “Future through Innovation” (zdi), the zdi Center investMINT Oberberg is embedded in one of the largest networks for promoting young talent in natural sciences and technology in Europe.
Every year, around 10,000 children and young people from the Oberberg district participate in the programs offered as part of the regional zdi network – ranging from early education in kindergartens to career and study orientation in upper secondary school. The range of offerings with a clear focus on strengthening STEM competencies is broad and includes school programs, holiday activities, student competitions, excursions, specialist days, and training for teachers. Nearly all schools and numerous kindergartens in the Oberberg district are reached in this way.
“This reach and diversity are primarily thanks to the great commitment of our partners. Extracurricular learning centers, schools, associations, companies, freelance lecturers, and volunteers implement the majority of the initiatives themselves. The close networking enables practical learning opportunities – an important contribution to securing skilled labor in the region,” said Bastian Thelen, zdi network coordinator. “Our goal from the very beginning was to establish STEM promotion jointly and permanently in the region – that is what we are celebrating today.”
10 Years of zdi Student Laboratory investMINT Oberberg at the Dieringhausen Vocational College
As part of the zdi Center investMINT Oberberg, a special highlight was established 10 years ago: the zdi Student Laboratory investMINT Oberberg at the Dieringhausen Vocational College. Here, school classes (from grade 9) experience the simulation of a manufacturing company during a project day. In teams, the young people take on tasks in production, marketing, finance, research and development, or management, gaining practical insights into how economic processes work.
The zdi Student Laboratory continues to generate great interest and is now fully booked year-round. More than 13,000 students from over 500 school classes have already used the program over the past ten years. This makes the zdi Student Laboratory an important component of regional career orientation, aiming to inspire young people early on for technical and scientific professions and to meet future skilled labor needs.
Colorful Program for the Anniversary
Ralf Krauter from Deutschlandfunk moderated the colorful program of the anniversary celebration. A short film provided guests with an insight into a day at the zdi Student Laboratory investMINT Oberberg (the film can be found at: zdi Student Laboratory investMINT Oberberg at the Dieringhausen Vocational College). In a moderated interview, former network coordinator Kerstin von Scheidt, laboratory director Mirco Rödder, and current network coordinator Bastian Thelen reflected on milestones and achievements and discussed future priorities. Subsequently, Prof. Dr. Susanne Böhlich from IU – International University, provided valuable insights into how young people can be sustainably engaged in STEM careers. The content of the lecture was further explored in a subsequent panel discussion with experts from education, business, and politics, emphasizing the relevance of extracurricular learning centers for securing skilled labor. Shortly before the event concluded, a Green Science Slam on the topic of “Plastics of the Future” provided entertaining and educational insights. The event closed with a thank-you to all those involved who have actively supported the zdi Center investMINT Oberberg and the zdi Student Laboratory and significantly contributed to the development of the network.
