News
07.04.2025
Hector Children's Academy Program: Continuing support for young talents!
Baden-Württemberg and the Hector Foundation are continuing their successful partnership.
The State of Baden-Württemberg and the Hector Foundation will extend their successful 15-year partnership in supporting gifted students. On April 3, 2025, both parties signed an agreement at the Haus der Wirtschaft in Stuttgart to extend their collaboration on the Hector Children's Academy program for another five years. Until the end of the 2029/30 school year, the Hector Foundation will provide approximately 25 million euros to support the Hector Children's Academies Program across the state and their accompanying scientific research.
With 69 locations, the number of Hector Children's Academies has more than tripled since the program’s launch in 2010. The academies aim is to identify and support especially gifted children at an early age, particularly in the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). “Through our support, we aim to help recognize and foster children’s exceptional talents as early as possible. We are thrilled by the high number of participating children. It is especially important to us that the program reaches children from all social backgrounds,” said Uwe Bleich, member of the board of the Hector Foundations.
This initiative reflects the educational philosophy of the state government. “It is crucial to support both high-achieving and disadvantaged students equally. A society needs both approaches. That’s why I’m deeply grateful that we can rely on the Hector Foundation,” said Theresa Schopper, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports in Baden-Württemberg. “The Hector Children's Academies reach nearly all primary schools in Baden-Württemberg, allowing us to support gifted children according to their potential. That is truly unique.”
Support and Scientific Monitoring
Since 2010, the Hector Children's Academies have been offering special courses for gifted and highly gifted primary school children that go far beyond the regular curriculum. In the past school year alone, around 23,500 children from more than 2,000 primary schools benefited from this exceptional support.
A particular highlight of the program is its ongoing scientific monitoring. This is carried out by the Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology at the University of Tübingen and the Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education. The research includes evaluating the support measures and providing further training for course instructors and teachers. Existing findings confirm the positive impact of the Hector Kinderakademien on the development of participating children. “Continuous scientific evaluation ensures that the programs are constantly optimized and tailored to the children’s needs,” said Professor Ulrich Trautwein, who leads the research accompanying the Hector Children's Academies.
Future Prospects and New Locations
Currently, 69 locations operate across Baden-Württemberg. Additional academies may be established upon request by local sponsors and with the approval of the advisory board. The goal is to make the Hector Children's Academies accessible to all exceptionally gifted children throughout the state.
Further information:
www.hector-kinderakademie.de
www.hib.uni-tuebingen.de
www.hector-stiftung.com
Press contact:
Amelie Rebmann & Jennifer Raffler
amelie.rebmann@uni-tuebingen.de
jennifer.raffler@uni-tuebingen.de
Back
