Children’s and Youth Universities: BMBWF and OeAD promote knowledge experiences

Austria puts an emphasis on out-of-school science education

The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) and Austria’s education agency OeAD are committing themselves once again to funding children's and youth universities. The period for submitting funding applications to the OeAD runs from 9 October to 4 December 2023.
In the coming year Austrian universities and research institutions will once again open their doors to children and young people. The children's and youth universities offer exciting science education programmes: In lectures, workshops and excursions the young participants will have the possibility to immerse themselves in the world of science and research. Not only do they have the opportunity to experience science first-hand but they can also engage in direct dialogue with scientists, ask questions, question things and try things out themselves. The long-term goal of this programme is to awaken an interest in science and research in children and young people and at the same time to strengthen their confidence in science.
The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) will support these projects financially. The federal minister Martin Polaschek emphasises the long-standing support of this programme: "The BMBWF has funded children's and youth universities in Austria since 2004. Thus Austria plays a pioneering role in an international context as no other European country has a comparable funding programme that specifically supports out-of-school science education for the youngest members of our society. It complements the successful funding programme Sparkling Science 2.0, which supports science education at schools."
The OeAD’s managing director Jakob Calice expresses optimism: "The programme is ideal for young science pioneers! We therefore hope for many high-quality submissions again this year. Last year 21 children's and youth universities and 13 extension modules were funded. The final numbers of participants are not yet available as some projects still run until the end of the year. However, we expect that in 2023 approximately 40,000 children and young people all over Austria will have been reached by the diverse offers. We want to continue this success story in 2024 so that curiosity and interest in science and research can be sustainably awakened."
In addition to funding for children's and youth universities extension modules for "holiday care with a scientific claim" can also be submitted. These modules offer all-day weekly activities that combine science, play and exercise. If a children's and youth university project has been submitted and is funded an additional subsidy can be granted.
A major goal of this funding programme is to reach as many children and young people as possible from different population groups, especially those who have had little or no contact with universities up to now. This requires low-threshold access to science and research as well as the reduction of fear of contact. For this reason the courses also increasingly take place in public spaces, parks, council houses, libraries and in rural areas.
Further information: https://youngscience.at/de/angebote/kinder-und-jugenduniversitaeten
Key data of the call for proposals
Start of submissions: Monday, 9 October 2023, 12:00
Closing date for submissions: Monday, 4 December 2023, 12:00