From 17 to 19 April 2023, a three-day STEM congress took place for the first time in Austria at the University of Leoben. The congress, which addressed a broad audience with an extensive programme, served as a networking platform for representatives from business and research, as well as teachers from all types of schools The event, which was attended by around 600 people, is part of a STEM strategy, the development of which has made the educational region of Eastern Upper Styria a model region and a pioneer in Austria.
 

Opening with minister and state councilor

The event was opened by Federal Minister Martin Polaschek. ‘Due to advancing digitalisation and new technologies, the importance of the STEM disciplines is increasing We at the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research are implementing many measures ourselves and also supporting numerous external projects to educate the best specialists in the STEM field. We are particularly keen to inspire young women to pursue a career in this area, and this is best achieved by fostering interest at an early stage. We want to promote this in particular with the first STEM congress in Leoben.
 

Werner Amon, Regional Minister for Education and President of the Styrian Education Directorate, emphasised the importance of the ‘MINT Initiative’ in his statement: ‘Competencies in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology are essential for many companies in business and industry. We must therefore promote the skilled workers of tomorrow in the technical and scientific fields today The first MINT Congress in Leoben provides an important platform for continuing to work together with partners from business, education and science towards this goal."

In his welcoming address, Rector Wilfried Eichlseder expressed his pleasure at the University of Leoben hosting such an important congress: ’The Industrial Revolution was also accompanied by a significant increase in quality of life and prosperity However, this development is not over yet. On the contrary, new technologies are needed to solve the current challenges, from climate change to digitalisation. To achieve this, we need specialists in the STEM fields. With this event, we want to provide information and, I hope, inspire young people to take up these subjects."
 

A varied programme

Each day of the congress was dedicated to a specific theme, which guided the lectures, panel discussions and interviews in the morning in the large Erzherzog-Johann-Auditorium of the Montanuniversität. These topics were
 

   economy and education (Monday, 17 April 2023)
   STEM in the context of gender equality and equity (Tuesday, 18 April 2023)
   digitalisation (Wednesday, 19 April 2023).
 

The afternoon programme blocks were each introduced by contributions from well-known ‘Science Busters’ and science columnists. After that, lectures, tours and workshops specifically for primary school teachers and STEM teachers at secondary levels I and II took place in parallel.
 

Large consortium from education and business

The STEM Congress was the result of a large-scale and diverse collaboration between a wide range of institutions and departments:

   BMBWF & Bildungsdirektion Steiermark
   Montanuniversität Leoben & Fachhochschule Joanneum Kapfenberg
   Pädagogischen Hochschule Steiermark & Private Pädagogische Hochschule Augustinum
   TU Austria
   MINT Koordination Steiermark ‘Science Garden’
   Federation of Austrian Industries
   MINTality Foundation
   Kaiserfeld Foundation
   HTL Kapfenberg
   STVG – Styrian Economic Society
   Styrian Chamber of Commerce
   City of Leoben & ‘Obersteierstark’ initiative (Regional Management Eastern Styria)