Special Initiatives in Mathematics and Science Education

A number of European, national, and regional initiatives are designed to encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.⁴⁴ These four subjects usually are referred to as the MINT subjects in Germany.

At the national level, some of these initiatives are associated with the High-Tech Strategy, which was launched by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in 2006, and was further developed in 2014.⁴⁵ The strategy aims to support the development of new products, innovative training, and continuing education services to meet the increasing demand for highly skilled workers in Germany.⁴⁶

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) initiatives include Science Days, which focus on career orientation and typically are organized by associations, societies, or foundations and attract more than 18,000 visitors;⁴⁷ targeted education programs at museums of technology or natural science; mathematical and scientific competitions, such as Youth Research (Jugend forscht);⁴⁸ university activities for children (e.g., touring the university and participating in children’s university lectures); and special vacation academies to support the talent and development of youth in STEM subjects. Some of these programs, such as Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day, introduce boys and girls to career possibilities in which men or women are underrepresented.^49,50 In addition, the National Pact for Women in STEM Professions—a program that aims to increase the proportion of women in STEM careers—sponsors projects that target girls and women.⁵¹