STEM Jobs for the Future: Second Project Meeting in Berlin

At the end of June, 20 teachers from 14 countries gathered in Berlin for the second “STEM Jobs for the Future” project meeting. Despite temperatures approaching 40°C, the participants spent the weekend working intensively on the development of innovative teaching materials that integrate career orientation directly into the classroom.

The teachers had first met at the project kick-off in Berlin in November 2025, where they formed international working groups and began developing their ideas. Since then, they have collaborated closely, further refined their materials, and tested them in their classrooms. The second project meeting provided an opportunity to bring these experiences together, further develop the teaching resources, and plan the next steps towards publication.

The four international working groups are focusing on the themes of Water, Space, Biology & Robotics, and The Perfect T-Shirt. Together, they are creating interactive teaching materials that help students understand how the skills they develop in STEM lessons connect to future careers. The resources include a wide range of engaging formats, from project-based learning activities and quizzes to role-playing scenarios.

The meeting began on Friday with each group presenting the current state of their materials. The participants then defined their objectives and roadmap for the weekend: What should be accomplished by Sunday? Which tasks still needed attention? And how could the different teaching units within each group be best aligned?

Saturday was dedicated to intensive group work and peer feedback. The teachers used the time to refine their concepts, discuss open questions, and strengthen the coherence of their materials. A special highlight was an input session by an engineer from Amazon Future Engineer, who shared insights into his career path, his day-to-day work, and the skills required in his profession. During the following Q&A session, participants had the opportunity to discuss their own questions directly with him. A well-deserved ice cream break helped to cool down a little bit between the working sessions.

On Sunday, the groups presented their progress and planned the final phase of completing the materials. The final teaching materials will be published in spring 2027 in both English and German.