BMFWF promotes research spirit: 45,000 children immerse themselves in the world of research

Children and young people throughout Austria are given the opportunity to experience universities, universities of applied sciences and research institutions at first hand and immerse themselves in the world of science in an age-appropriate way. In lectures, workshops and excursions, they can experiment for themselves, make their own discoveries and get a taste of a wide variety of topics. Austria's education agency OeAD coordinates the funding programme on behalf of the BMFWF.

‘The Children's and Youth Universities make a valuable contribution to awakening the spirit of research and opening the door to science for children,’ emphasises Science Minister Eva Maria Holzleitner. ’With low-threshold access and a wide range of offers, we are laying the foundation for educational equity and a vibrant democracy. Science and innovation begin with the youngest members of our society.’

Around 45,000 children and young people are to be reached by the BMFWF-funded projects by 2025 – from urban areas to remote villages. In addition to events at universities and research institutions, many children's universities also set up shop in unusual locations: in parks, rural regions or at extracurricular learning venues.

A wide variety of topics – boundless discovery

The range of topics covered by the children's and youth universities is wide, from sustainability and climate protection to digitisation and medicine, technology, art and socio-political issues. In addition, twelve holiday care modules with a scientific focus offer full-day programmes that combine fun research and age-appropriate leisure activities.

For Jakob Calice, managing director of the OeAD, Austria's children's and youth universities are essential for strengthening trust in science: ‘With its systematically developed range of children's university programmes, Austria has been an international pioneer for more than 20 years. We are particularly pleased that we are able to support more and more exciting projects in structurally less privileged regions.’

With a total of 24 funded projects, an even broader spectrum of Children's University offers will inspire the younger generation to experience science up close and actively shape it in 2025. The 12 funded extension modules for holiday care are full-day care programmes with workshops, lectures and other formats for joint research and the opportunity to let off steam in between in an age-appropriate manner. These holiday care options are offered in Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Styria, Tyrol and Vienna.

Several projects in the sector of children's and youth universities are taking place in Lower Austria. Since 2024, the OeAD has also been coordinating funding for children's universities with a connection to Lower Austria, which is provided by the province of Lower Austria. This successful cooperation will continue in 2025, providing additional funding for nine projects, such as the Children's University in Tulln and the Young Campus at the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences.

Deputy Provincial Governor Stephan Pernkopf emphasises: ‘With children's and youth universities, we give young people the opportunity to experience science at first hand and discover the world with open eyes. The participants may well be the researchers of tomorrow.’

All children's and youth universities funded in 2025 can be found on the OeAD website at the following link:

https://youngscience.oead.at/de/angebote/kinder-und-jugenduniversitaeten/projekte