Tomorrow's technology starts today - we take responsibility!

Starting signal for more technology education at schools in Linz and Linz-Land!

DIGITAL MILE Linz is launching an initiative in collaboration with leading companies in Linz to jointly promote more technology training in schools.

In this way, we create easy and low-threshold access to technical topics for pupils in grades 7 and 8.
HTL LiTec and HTL Leonding are also involved and support the concept of "pupils teaching pupils" in order to awaken enthusiasm for technology right from the start.

The successful robot olympiad concept has been established in the Innviertel region for years and is now being expanded to other Upper Austrian districts.
This year, the initiative will also be launched in Linz and Linz-Land in the 2024/25 school year.

This concept includes:

• Teaching materials:
  - Provision of Lego robotic sets for schools.
  - Provision of additional teaching materials (tasks and examples) in the field of robotics.
• Technical knowledge:
  - The know-how of the HTLs is transferred to the 7+8 school levels:
  a) through a technology day for all students at the HTL
  b) through the ongoing supervision of the free robotics course at the schools
  c) as part of the digital vacations (autumn vacations)
  - Teachers at MS and AHS are offered creditable further training in the field of technology (held by HTLs)
• Resources:
  - HTLs: provide specialist know-how and personnel resources
  - MS and AHS: provide teaching staff, coordinate all activities, supervise and motivate the students
  - Education Directorate: provides the necessary teaching units for the schools and HTLs under the "Talent Promotion" program.
  - Companies: make technology tangible, reduce fear of contact and provide financial support.
• Fear of contact:
  In addition to reducing fears of contact with technical professions in the form of technology days at the HTLs and in companies, we rely heavily on a particularly successful way of imparting knowledge.
  In peer-to-peer learning, HTL students teach younger young people and thus also serve as role models.
• Uniform, scalable concept:
  The concept has already been implemented in several districts in Upper Austria.
  Due to the long-term commitment and the win/win situation of all those involved, we assume that the initiative will be sustainable and reach the necessary breadth.
  The annual final event in the form of a competition is intended to motivate schoolgirls to master technical challenges on the one hand and to achieve a positive community effect by bringing together many like-minded people on the other.

Also on board:

• 2 HLTs: HTL LiTec and HTL Leonding
• 8 schools: Akademisches Gymnasium, BRG Fadingerstraße, Europagymnasium Auhof, Gymnasium Petrinum, MS 15 Leonardo da Vinci, MS Neuhofen, PTS Linz Stadt 1, TNMS3
• Linz companies through school sponsorships: Dynatrace, KEBA, Netural, Primetals Technologies Austria and TECH HARBOR
• the Upper Austria Education Directorate
• Organizers: Innovationshauptplatz and DIGITAL MILE Linz
  

If the technical education of young people is also important to your company:
Take on the "school sponsorship" for an entire school by participating in this technology initiative.

• Costs for the school sponsorship:
  - in the first year: € 3,000 net (purchase of the robotic sets, organization of events and competitions)
  - from the second year: € 1,600 net (maintenance of the robotic sets, organization of events and competitions)
• Your company benefits:
  - You present yourself as a company with social responsibility (early technology education at schools for ALL students in grades 7+8)
  - Advertising presence at the events and competitions (Lego Kids T-shirts in sponsor colors and logo, advertising materials, etc.)
  - Logo imprint on the Robotic Sets
  - Opportunity to invite the teams/classes/schools to your company and thus present yourself attractively to future employees (Technology Day)

Let's shape the technology of tomorrow together and become part of this initiative!

IMPORTANT:
To be part of the big start in the 2024/25 school year in the form of a "school sponsorship" :
Please contact us by October 21, 2024 at the latest at office@digital-mile.at

TIMELINE:

• August 2024:
  Invitation from Linz and Linz Land secondary schools to take part in the "robot olympiad district linz" initiative
• September 2024:
  Info meeting with all interested schools and HTLs
• October 2024:
  Coordination of HTL Leonding and HTL LiTec with other HTLs in Upper Austria in order to use synergies and establish a uniform program.
  Distribution of LEGO sets to the two HTLs so that the LEGO coaches (= HTL students) can be trained in good time.
• 05 November 2024: Kick-off meeting at 14:00 h at HTL LiTec with all those involved:
  - HTLs (with the LEGO coaches = HTL students)
  - participating schools (with the LEGO kids = 7th + 8th grade students)
  - Education Directorate
  - organizers (Innovationshauptplatz and DIGITAL MILE Linz)
• in the next few weeks:
  LEGO coaches (from the HTLs) teach the LEGO kids (12 teaching units are planned for this)
• Until the competitions:
  - LEGO kids train and practise independently with the tasks provided
  - Companies invite the teams/classes/schools (technology day)
• approx. May/June 2025:
  - Regional competition of the robot olympiad district linz: in Linz
  - Austrian competition of WRO Austria: 2025 in Linz
• November 2025:
  - global WRO competition in Singapore