The MINT Cooperation Programme consists of several parts:

• Summer and Winter Schools for students
• Mentoring programmes TANDEMkids and TANDEMschool
• University for Highschool Students (information only in German)
• 8 PhD scholarships in didactical areas of Natural Science
• 10 PhD scholarships which deal with Gender aspects

One part of the MINT Cooperation Programme intends to encourage more students to study one of the so called MINT subjects namely Mathematics, Information Technology, Natural Science and Technology subjects. Through a specific recruiting programme and a Summer School, RWTH Aachen wants to motivate talented young people for these subjects.

In this sense the existing mentoring programmes will be extended with specific offerings for students. While TANDEMkids addresses students from the 7th grade, TANDEMschool encourages students from the 11th grade to participate in Summer Schools which are organised by PhD students. The Summer Schools took place for the first time in September 2008.

The other part of the MINT Cooperation Programme addresses qualified university graduates who are pursuing a scientific career. RWTH Aachen awards 8 prestigious scholarships for PhD candidates who have finished their degree for the teaching practice in one of the so-called MINT subjects. The aim is to enhance the percentage of female PhD students in the different didactical areas of Natural Science.

The first call in which four scholarships were tendered showed already a positive signal. Four successful female junior scientists - two mathematicians, one biologist and one computer scientist - were awarded the prestigious scholarship.

The incorporation of Gender Studies in the area of MINT subjects will be supported and promoted through PhD scholarships. Currently RWTH Aachen offers 10 PhD scholarships for theses which deal with Gender aspects (assigned scolarships).