MINT pioneers: Girls’Day Academy inspires girls in Amberg!

MINT pioneers: Girls’Day Academy inspires girls in Amberg!

The future of young women in technical professions is a central concern of the Girls'Day Academy, which celebrated its final event on July 3, 2025 at the Gregor-Mendel-Gymnasium in Amberg. This project, supported by the Bavarian metal and electrical employers' associations bayme vbm as well as the Bavarian regional directorate of the Federal Employment Agency and the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, has been supporting girls in the MINT sector for over ten years. According to board members and supporters, the academy is an important contribution to securing skilled workers in the metal and electrical industries. Bertram Brossardt, Managing Director of bayme vbm, made it clear in his speech how crucial such initiatives are in awakening girls' enthusiasm for technology at an early stage.

As part of the Girls'Day Academy, students in grades 7 to 10 of secondary schools and high schools attend practical career and study orientations once a week, outside of regular lessons. The participants have the opportunity to discover technical talents through independent testing and experimentation and to deal more intensively with apprenticeships and study programs in the MINT sector. This school year, three schools and eight companies took part in the Upper Palatinate, which shows how close the cooperation between schools and companies in Bavaria is. This is a crucial aspect in paving the way for a career in technical professions and breaking down stereotypes.

Practical experiences and role models

At the final event, students had the opportunity to present their project work and share personal experiences. Successful participants received a certificate of completion that proves the skills they have learned. Support from educators plays just as important a role as the exchange with female role models from business. Markus Schmitz from the Bavarian Regional Directorate of the Federal Employment Agency stated that these contacts are essential for opening up new professional perspectives for young women and reducing prejudices in the MINT sector.

The Girls’Day Academy offers girls a valuable opportunity to get hands-on experience with the metal and electrical industries. Company tours and the opportunity to create workpieces together with trainees ensure that the students not only gain theoretical knowledge, but also get a feel for professional practice. Such experiences are important, after all, women are still underrepresented in technical professions. This underrepresentation is no accident; Studies show that only 56% of women with a STEM degree actually work in a STEM profession, compared to 70% of men. The reasons for this are often a lack of role models and unclear career ideas.

Commitment to the future

Bavaria's Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger emphasized the importance of the Academy for the future of young skilled workers in the MINT sector and reiterated the state's support for such projects. Initiatives like the Girls’Day Academy are crucial to attracting more women to technical careers and to exploit the potential in MINT subjects. The knowledge and experiences collected are intended to encourage not only current year students, but also future generations to take up technical careers.

The commitment of the Girls’Day Academy is an important step in the right direction. The combination of practical experience and exchange with female role models offers young women an opportunity that they should take advantage of. As Bertram Brossardt summarizes: “We have to awaken this enthusiasm for technology in order to promote the talents of our girls and give them the best possible support on their professional paths.” The project highlights the need to strengthen STEM education for young women and open the doors to a successful future for them.