Children's and Youth Universities: Call for proposals 2021 for 1.2 million euros

On 10 March 2021 the OeAD will launch a call for proposals for the funding programme for children's and youth universities 2021. The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) will provide 1.2 million euros for this purpose. Bringing science and research to life for children and young people all over Austria is a core mission of the OeAD, the Agency for Education and Internationalisation. The funding programme for children's and youth universities ideally complements the big Sparkling Science programme and the Young Science activities.

Universities, universities of applied sciences, university colleges of teacher education, non-university research institutions, non-profit associations, limited liability companies as well as individuals cooperating with universities or universities of applied sciences within the framework of the funded initiatives can apply for funding until 26 April 2021. Children and young people can thus once again attend workshops, lectures and seminars in lecture halls, laboratories and camps at the participating research institutions during the summer. The BMBWF has been supporting the children's and youth universities in Austria for several years. Last year 20 children's and youth university projects were funded. Approximately 40,000 children on average were able to get a taste of university life in each of the last few years.

The Minister for Education and Science Heinz Faßmann emphasises: “Promoting the desire for science is a major concern of ours. In subjects such as natural sciences or experimenting in laboratories we particularly want to address girls. We support the children's universities because the urge to explore is not always there from the outset but it can be awakened.”

The OeAD’s Managing Director Jakob Calice points out: “We want to arouse curiosity and a willingness to innovate in as many children and young people as possible. The world of science is a world of wonder, research, and trial and error. And maybe we are thus laying the foundation for a future career in science!”

Inclusion as an important pillar of the funding programme: Children and young people from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, with migration backgrounds, with disabilities and/or from peripheral regions are to be addressed in particular. Special attention is paid to measures and strategies that promote the development potential of all genders and counteract role stereotypes as well as to imparting knowledge relevant to sustainability.

Funding is available for children's and youth university projects for up to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total costs or up to 70,000 euros. Moreover, a grant of up to 50,000 euros can be obtained for an extension module named “Holiday care with a scientific claim”.

Holiday care with a scientific claim

The holiday care programme “Science Holidays – Take a Holiday in the World of Science”, which was implemented for the first time in 2020 at six Austrian research institutions, will, due to its great success, be funded again this year as an additional module named “Holiday Care with a Scientific Claim”. It covers the participation of children and young people for a minimum of one and a maximum of nine weeks during the summer holidays.

To the call for applications: www.youngscience.at/kinder-jugendunis

OeAD – Agency for Education and Internationalisation

For 60 years the OeAD has been advising, supporting and connecting people and institutions in education, science, research and culture with its future-oriented programmes. As an agency of the Republic of Austria the OeAD thus contributes to inclusive, equal and high-quality education. The OeAD’s fields of activity are in Austria, Europe and internationally in priority countries. The OeAD is an interface to educational offers for all phases of life – from kindergarten and schools to higher education and science, vocational education and training and adult education.