SDG 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. This involves not only ensuring that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, for example, but also building and upgrading education facilities as well as substantially increasing the supply of qualified teachers.

Overview, targets and indicators of SDG 4

Forschungszentrum Jülich is helping to realize SDG 4 by creating links between the educational system and current cutting-edge research.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) affect all areas of life, either directly or indirectly. This makes STEM research a cornerstone for the further development of society.

The JuLab Schools Laboratory at Forschungszentrum Jülich offers school students and teachers insights into STEM topics based on examples from use-inspired research. It works together with schools, kindergartens, and networks outside the school system and offers a wide range of activities for different target groups to promote the transfer of scientific knowledge. School students have the option of day-long experiment programmes, project courses, congresses for school students, courses for school classes, week-long “researcher” programmes during the school holidays, as well as Girls' and Boys' Days. Teachers and educators can opt for day-long hands-on STEM programmes and other training courses. JuLab also runs family events for parents, grandparents, and children.

Education for sustainable development (ESD) is JuLab’s key brief, and it is constantly expanding its portfolio in this respect.

“In our complex world, we are confronted with growing opportunities, technical challenges, and big social and ethical issues that constantly demand negotiation as a society. A grounded STEM education is becoming a prerequisite for a sustainable society where every individual can understand the modern world, live in it, and help to shape it. Good STEM education needs strong partners. For this reason, we invest in our future in the long term and promote the STEM education of young people,” says Ina Keutmann, contact for and head of the JuLab Schools Laboratory.

Project Information

Further information

Promote education before/during schooling

Portfolio

The JuLab Schools Laboratory has a broad portfolio of knowledge transfer in the STEM subjects for a wide range of groups. It offers digital courses as well as programmes and activities in its modern laboratories. (in German)

Support for students at upper secondary level

Project courses

Current research plus own ideas and interests: in the project course, school students are encouraged to work in a scientific manner. The idea is to awaken an interest in science in the school students by allowing them to work on their own project throughout a given school year with a mentor researcher from FZJ at their side. (in German)

Promote education during/after university studies

JuDocS - Jülich Center for Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors

JuDocS provides support for doctoral researchers by offering onboarding, training measures, project monitoring, and counselling while fostering high quality standards.