SimplyNano 2 used in all schools of four Swiss cantons

As part of the IT education offensive and with the support of 20 partners, 600 "SimplyNano 2" experiment kits were made available free of charge to around 90 secondary schools in St.Gallen and Appenzell last year. The many practical applications and experiments in the suitcase demonstrate the exciting variety of topics in scientific and technical occupational fields. This makes an important contribution to the career choice process of young people. Last year, more than 120 teachers learned how to use the suitcases in eight continuing education courses at companies and in online seminars. In addition to nano-experiments, they also got to know companies that will be dependent on the next generation of skilled workers in the future. In this way, the project builds a bridge between schools and companies. The feedback from teachers and companies, and ultimately from the students, was very positive.

Progress of the IT education initiative

Many of the 22 sub-projects of the IT education offensive are well advanced. For example, in the elementary and secondary schools, selected model schools will start in the summer.
of the elementary school under the supervision of the St.Gallen University of Teacher Education (PHSG) will start testing various scenarios of digital education such as adaptive learning, blended learning, 1:1 computing and make-oriented learning. At the same time, two of three planned model projects (blended learning, pedagogical and technical support) will begin at selected secondary schools. In addition, the modular professional development program developed by the PHSG for teachers at elementary, middle, and vocational schools for the incoming application will also be ready for launch at the end of 2021. Furthermore, as is well known, with the start of the fall semester at the OST, the bachelor's course in computer science will no longer be offered exclusively in Rapperswil, but now also in St.Gallen. This market expansion brings the previously weak supply of training places for qualified specialists in computer science in the Fürstenland-St.Gallen-Lake Constance arc into line with the high demand. Also at the University of St.Gallen (HSG), the first Master's students will start their studies in computer science at the new School of Computer Science in the coming fall semester. This is the first time that the HSG has taken the step of becoming a provider in a discipline of the technically oriented faculty group and meets the demand of the economy for academically qualified computer scientists.

STEM promotion for all Swiss upper secondary schools

The successful "SimplyNano 2" project in eastern Switzerland is an important step on the way to nationwide deployment. Currently, the suitcases are already available in four cantons in all upper-level schools. From the 2021/22 school year, the canton of Zurich will also be equipped with the cases, and by the end of 2025, all interested schools throughout Switzerland should have experiment cases. This will enable many young people to become enthusiastic about technology and even a corresponding career choice while they are still at school. Further information can be found on the SimplyNano website.

The project in eastern Switzerland is supported by the following partners:

• Alexander Schmidheiny Stiftung
• Amgen Switzerland AG
• Filtrox AG
• Geberit AG
• Hans Huber Stiftung
• INFICON Holding AG
• IT-Bildungsoffensive des Kantons St. Gallen
• Metrohm Stiftung, Herisau
• Ortsbürgergemeinde St. Gallen
• Ortsgemeinde Widnau
• Ria & Arthur Dietschweiler Stiftung
• Sefar AG, Thal
• Siegfried AG
• SimplyScience Stiftung
• SFS AG, Heerbrugg
• Starrag AG, Thal
• Steinegg Stiftung, Herisau
• Galler Kantonalbank
• Straubenzeller Fonds der Ortsbürgergemeinde St. Gallen
• Vifor Pharma AG
• Walter und Verena Spühl-Stiftung