The Idea
The TUMKolleg – an innovative practical project to promote high-performing students
In the creation of the TUMKolleg, the leading consideration was that of providing particularly gifted students interested in mathematics, science, and technology with the opportunity to participate in university research and teaching at an early stage.
Independent of TUM’s considerations, the Otto-von-Taube-Gymnasium Gauting expressed the desire to continue the support classes for highly gifted students already existing in the lower and middle grades of the Gymnasium into the upper grades.
Thus, the TUMKolleg was established as a cooperation between the Technical University of Munich and the Otto-von-Taube Gymnasium Gauting. The first TUMKolleg class began in the 2009/10 school year with 14 students. Starting in the 2016/17 school year, the TUMKolleg also became part of the upper school program at the Werner-Heisenberg-Gymnasium Garching.
At the TUMKolleg, a maximum of 15 selected students per year per school are guided toward the Abitur (university entrance qualification) in a separate upper-level program. At the university, they attend selected courses and are involved in research projects run by various departments. A special feature of the TUMKolleg is the organizational and content-related integration of learning and research, which places it at the interface between school and university. Unlike other support programs such as early study, no classes are missed during the time at university and therefore do not need to be made up.
Accompanying Research
The TUMKolleg is firmly integrated into the Department of Educational Sciences at the TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology. This department is characterized by context-sensitive and research-based educational research that examines learning processes, competency development, and innovative learning environments across the entire lifespan.
To ensure quality and to further develop the project, alumni surveys are regularly conducted, in which former participants reflect on their experiences and the personal benefits of the TUMKolleg. Click here for the latest results of these surveys.
In addition, accompanying research is carryed out that focuses in particular on the development of TUMKolleg students‘ preparatory scientific skills and career choice competence. Qualitative and quantitative methods are used to assess the effectiveness of the project in a differentiated manner and to provide impetus for further development.