Future -oriented education: NRW starts new subjects for technology and IT!

Ab 2025/26 führt NRW neue Bildungsgänge in Ingenieurtechnik und Informatik an Berufskollegs ein, um Fachkräfte zu fördern.
From 2025/26, NRW introduces new courses in engineering technology and computer science to vocational colleges in order to promote skilled workers. (Symbolbild/ANAG)

Future -oriented education: NRW starts new subjects for technology and IT!

From the school year 2025/26, two new subjects will be introduced to vocational colleges in North Rhine-Westphalia. This was decided by the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia in order to react to the shortage of skilled workers in the MINT area. The new courses that will start some vocational colleges next year are the vocational school for engineering technology and the technical college for computer science. The introduction of these subjects was approved by the state cabinet in the last week of January, and school authorities already have the option of submitting applications to establish the new courses. The design of the regulation is presented to the state parliament and advised on the school and education committee. However, official approval from the state parliament is necessary to enable implementation, reports Ruhr24.

The vocational school for engineering technology has been tested at 22 vocational college as part of a school attempt since the 2019/2020 school year. The focus of this educational institution is in the areas of construction, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. At the same time, the technical college for computer science was launched in nine schools in the school year 2020/2021, with a curriculum that is geared towards software development, operating systems and network technologies. Both school attempts have shown positive results, which underpins the decision to introduce the new subjects.

Requirements for the new educational courses

The introduction of the new courses is intended to ensure that young people are specifically prepared for qualified training and courses in the MINT area. According to School Ministry of NRW , new courses can first be tested at a few locations and, if successful, can be extended to regular offers. The MINT disciplines are crucial to convey comprehensive professional knowledge to young people and simply integrate them into social and economic life. School attempts show that innovative projects help to inspire young people for technical professions and to facilitate the transition to training or study.

In addition, a nationwide preliminary examination committee is set up to ensure uniform standards for the technical college entrance examination in engineering technology. Extensive evaluation measures were carried out during school tests to monitor the quality and acceptance of the educational courses. This also results in recommendations for action, such as the transfer of the vocational school for engineering technology into the control system or the establishment of the course as a two-year vocational school education course.

practical perspectives and many registrations

The technical college for computer science is very popular because many students appreciate the high proportion of practice that enables them to experience concrete company projects. You have the opportunity to deepen your practical experience through an annual internship. However, many students already switch to class 11 in dual training, which illustrates the need for further measures to strengthen the educational courses, as the Ministry of School determines.

The new subjects are considered a decisive measure to modernize the education systems in NRW and to prepare the students specifically for the future. Young people should acquire the ability to recognize problems independently and to develop solutions. Girls are also specially encouraged to deal with mathematics, natural sciences, computer science and technology in order to promote broader participation in these disciplines and to improve their opportunities at work, explains The Ministry of School NRW .

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