zdi-Zentrum Mönchengladbach
zdi stands for “Future through Innovation NRW”; it is the largest joint initiative of the federal state, schools, universities and companies to get young people interested in technical and scientific degree courses and professions. The zdi is coordinated by the NRW’s Ministry of Science. Other state partners include the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the NRW Regional Directorate of the Federal Employment Agency. The aim of the zdi-Zentrum Mönchengladbach is to build a bridge between schools, universities and training establishments and business. It also aims to give students insights into MINT-related training / degree opportunities (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology). It hosts practical courses for schoolchildren that include tips on choosing a career.
For this reason, in 2009 Mönchengladbach’s business development agency, together with stakeholders from industry and schools, set up the zdi Centre Mönchengladbach. Since 2012, all its activities are coordinated by the MGconnect team of the business development agency. Since 2013, the training association Mönchengladbach has been a workshop partner of the zdi-Zentrum Mönchengladbach and since 2014, Unternehmerschaft Metall und Elektro zu Mönchengladbach e.V. as well as 18 other partners from industry have been supporting the zdi-Zentrum Mönchengladbach. Together they show schoolchildren that MINT subjects can be fun. In addition to zdi partner companies, the zdi-Zentrum Mönchengladbach cooperates with numerous zdi partner schools from Mönchengladbach and the surrounding area.