SPD anticipates the opening of the "Girls' School"
New Initiative: Girls' Academy in Oberhausen Aims to Inspire Future Female Leaders in MINT Fields
Starting April, the Girls' Academy, a new initiative in Oberhausen, will provide opportunities for girls in grades 8 to 13 to explore careers in Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, and Technology (MINT). Each year, 20 students from different comprehensive schools will be supported by this programme.
The Girls' Academy is designed to address the underrepresentation of women in MINT professions by inspiring and encouraging girls to pursue these fields. It will enrich the educational landscape of Oberhausen and contribute to the city's business landscape by nurturing a new generation of MINT professionals.
Claudia Salwik, spokesperson for equal opportunities in the SPD faction, explained the benefits of the Girls' Academy. She expressed hope that the number of companies supporting the initiative will continue to grow.
The Girls' Academy is a continuation of the already established Girls' Days and will further animate the offer of 'Lab4U'. Several Oberhausen entrepreneurs and companies are already participating, providing resources, expertise, mentorship, and practical engagements to the participants.
The university, Hochschule Ruhr West (HRW), collaborates closely with these industry partners and community stakeholders to ensure relevant real-world insights and networking opportunities for the girls. The university provides organisational and academic backing, hosts workshops and events, and integrates these programmes into its community outreach and educational mission.
The goal of the Girls' Academy is to accompany future employees on their way into studies and training, and to win girls over for a MINT profession in a local company. The initiative aims to inspire girls for MINT careers and successfully graduate cohorts from the programme, thereby contributing to addressing gender disparities in these professions.
For instance, the Girls’ Academy at HRW Oberhausen successfully held a workshop titled “Am Rande des Weltalls!” (On the edge of space), designed to inspire female students to explore science topics and potentially pursue further studies or careers in these fields.
In summary, the purpose of the Girls' Academy is to motivate girls to pursue MINT careers through targeted workshops and programmes. Its impact includes increasing awareness, interest, and participation of girls in STEM fields and successfully graduating cohorts from the Girls' Academy. The local support system involves partnerships between HRW and local companies, enabling hands-on activities, mentorship, and direct exposure to MINT professions.
- The Girls' Academy, with its focus on education-and-self-development and personal-growth, is designed to inspire and encourage girls to pursue careers in Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, and Technology (MINT), contributing to their future professional success and personal growth.
- By offering targeted workshops and programmes, the Girls' Academy aims to not only increase awareness and interest among girls in STEM fields but also successfully graduate cohorts, thereby contributing significantly to the gender balance in MINT professions within their local community.
