Do talented youths receive the educational support they need to flourish? Education experts have been working on the question for decades. Helping the most talented realize their potential presents an enormous challenge—and a fantastic opportunity—for education systems around the world. Currently, less than 15% of talents are identified in most countries, and less than half of those so identified receive sufficient educational support. McKinsey, for example, has reckoned that a suboptimal education system in the United States costs around $1.2 trillion annually in foregone productivity. The University of Regensburg is leading efforts to improve the talent development pipeline in Germany and globally. Together with Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, the University of Regensburg is operating a unique international online mentoring program for talented youths in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical sciences (STEMM): Global Talent Mentoring. Global Talent Mentoring was featured at the Global Forum for Innovation in Education held in Dubai (UAE) on 28 February 2023.
Humanity faces daunting challenges (e.g., global warming, loss of biodiversity). In order to rise to the occasion and overcome these challenges, our civilization needs all the help it can get. One crucial piece of a viable solution involves unlocking more of the potential of the world’s most outstanding, hardworking youths with STEMM interests. With Global Talent Mentoring, my colleague Albert Ziegler and I are leveraging evidence-based methods of mentoring and networking to help this special group maximize their potential. This is all possible thanks to the vigorous support provided by the Hamdan Foundation.
—Prof. Dr. Stoeger
Global Talent Mentoring is a flagship educational offering of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance. The program was conceptualized and created through a research project at the University of Regensburg led by Prof. Dr. Heidrun Stoeger, chair professor for School Research, School Development, and Evaluation.
Prof. Dr. Stoeger and her colleague Prof. Drs. Albert Ziegler, chair professor for Educational Psychology and Research on Excellence at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, are now co-directing Global Talent Mentoring as the program expands its global reach. Global Talent Mentoring has been operating since 2021 and is currently helping outstanding youths and young adults from more than 40 countries to transform their already prodigious talents into innovation and eminence for the benefit of humankind.
The Global Forum for Innovation in Education was held to celebrate the achievements of the Hamdan Foundation as a dynamo of global education reform since its founding 25 years ago (e.g., working with UNESCO on improving the teaching profession). Prof. Dr. Stoeger presented Global Talent Mentoring as a scientifically cutting-edge means of supporting outstanding youths as they develop their talents. Prof. Dr. Stoeger introduced the attendees to the latest science of effective mentoring for achieving eminence and innovation in STEMM and, as a case in point, to Global Talent Mentoring. She described the multifaceted support measures that Global Talent Mentoring affords its participants worldwide. With its systemic approach, the program is helping talented young people to harness their potential for societies all over the world.
Click here to access our press release by the University of Regensburg (in German).