In Hirschaid near Bamberg the first German TUMO center in a rural area has opened it's doors on January 29th, 2025. TUMO is an innovative learning concept which playfully prepares children and teens for life and work in the 21st century. The new STEM learning center ist located in the small town Hirschaid. On weekends and after school, students can take part in free science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) workshops. Over the next three years, the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi) and the Chair of Cognitive Systems at the Otto Friedrich University of Bamberg will provide scientific support for the development of the STEM Center.

How can young people be inspired to engage with technical and scientific subjects? And how can girls in particular be attracted to the so-called STEM subjects? The new learning center in Hirschaid aims to offer low-threshold access to extracurricular learning opportunities and get young people interested in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology. The development phase of the center will be scientifically monitored and evaluated over a period of three years. Among other things, a strategy for recruiting participants will be developed as well as new STEM learning opportunities. Another important goal is to network the Hirschaid learning  center with other providers of extracurricular STEM education in the region.

Focus on girls
As part of the scientific monitoring, the LIfBi is primarily investigating which factors make it easier for young people to access STEM learning opportunities and how extracurricular STEM education can be successful. Particular attention is being paid to girls and educationally disadvantaged groups. The accompanying study, called “MINT-LinK”, is based on data from the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS). Professor Ilka Wolter, head of project at LIfBi: “Thanks to the NEPS, we know a lot about how mathematical, scientific and also ICT or digital skills develop. With the complementary study, we are now investigating the question of how the use of extracurricular learning locations and activities is related to the skills or interests of young people and whether indications can be derived as to how children and young people can be motivated to participate in such activities. The aim is to translate the scientific findings into recommendations for practical action: What exactly does it take to inspire young people to visit the STEM center and, in the long term, to pursue technical and scientific careers?” 

AI workshops for children
Bamberg University is focused on the conception, roll-out and evaluation of new learning modules regarding artificial intelligence (AI). These aim especially at younger children and will increase the offers of the STEM center beyond the TUMO programme. The University of Bamberg is focusing on the design, implementation and evaluation of new learning modules on artificial intelligence (AI). These are aimed particularly at younger children and will expand the STEM centre's offerings beyond the TUMO programme. Professor Ute Schmid, who heads the sub-project at the University of Bamberg: “The learning modules on the topic of AI expand the TUMO center's offerings in terms of content and also with regard to the target age group and thus provide a first cornerstone for the broader STEM center. TUMO focuses on young people between the ages of 12 and 18. Our workshops are aimed specifically at children aged 6 to 12.  TUMO focuses primarily on teaching digital skills. With the topic of AI, we are tapping into another highly topical subject area.”

Berlin, Mannheim, Hirschaid
With funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), The STEM center Hirschaid will gradually develop and operate an extracurricular experience, education and networking platform. A central part of the new education center will initially be used to set up TUMO Hirschaid. 

The program is currently aimed at young people aged 12 to 18. They can playfully explore various future-oriented topics such as 3D modeling, animation, game development, programming, photography, graphic design, film production and robotics. The TUMO learning program was developed in Armenia and is now available in several countries. Hirschaid is the third TUMO location in Germany after Berlin and Mannheim and the first in a rural area. Another center will open soon in Lüdenscheid.

MINT-LinK (LIfBi project website)

Project website Bamberg University

STEM center Hirschaid