The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
ESA’s Education Office is responsible for the Agency’s corporate education programme bringing together young people from many different nations.
The aim is to help young Europeans to gain and maintain an interest in science and technology, with the long-term objectives of contributing towards the creation of a knowledge-based society and ensuring the existence of a qualified workforce for the Agency that will ensure Europe’s continued leadership in space activities.
This is achieved by organising various activities designed for specific age groups, keeping the educational community informed about these developments, and providing inspirational materials that assist teachers and students with the learning process.
3-18 y/o: STEM Learning and Inspiration programme:
The STEM Learning and Inspiration programme features two activity sets. “Learn with Space” focuses on educational activities with specific learning objectives for both youngsters and educators. “Let Space Inspire You” aims to use the ‘wow’ factor of space to spark curiosity and interest in STEM and space careers among children and teenagers. These activities often synergize to reinforce both learning and inspiration. They are implemented nationally through the ESA ESERO framework project, supported by a network of national offices and partners in ESA Member and Associate States.
18+ y/o: new ESA Academy programme:
The ESA Academy programme, developed with industry, academia, and other stakeholders, offers three activity sets for university and vocational students, with future plans to include early-career professionals. The programme aims to prepare future talents for successful careers beyond the space and science/technology sectors. It equips young adults to address global challenges and connects them with professional communities early in their career paths.
The ESA Academy Training programme provides high-quality online and onsite sessions covering diverse topics by experts, complementing participants’ curricula, including those from non-STEM backgrounds, and preparing them for space-related careers or those benefiting from space applications.
The ESA Academy Projects programme offers hands-on experiences with various platforms like CubeSats, using project-based learning to enhance knowledge and practical skills. It includes new subjects like product development, entrepreneurship, innovation, and downstream space applications.
The ESA Academy Engagement programme fosters collaboration within ESA and with external partners, offering funding, joint learning activities, and access to ESA expertise. It focuses on inspiration, role modelling, career awareness, and STEM promotion, with specific initiatives for university students, including scholarships, internships, and conference opportunities.
