Sponsored by the "Deutschen Bundesstiftung Umwelt" ("German Environmental Foundation"), the project KURS 21, which is being co-ordinated jointly by the Wuppertal Institute and the "Institut Unternehmen & Schule" ("Business & Schools Institute") in Bonn, brings together schools and companies in a one-to-one co-operations, with positive effects for all concerned: schools and companies can make contact with each other prior to any training arrangements, and the partnership with business brings innovative and above all practical topics and methods into school teaching. In Wuppertal, one of the two model regions in Germany, where the project is being tried in practice prior to the national launch, KURS 21 is already running with conspicuous success.

In support of a qualified dialog, the Wuppertal Institute develops learning modules on the topic of sustainable management, which are incorporated into the regular school curriculum. The activities of the individual partnerships vary, depending on the subjects relevant to the company in question. Representatives of the company play a practical role in the teaching of the partner school, while pupils find out about the company on the spot, dealing with the problems of "Sustainability within the company" face-to-face with employees and teachers. As an important side effect, they also learn important key skills from teamwork to social conduct.

By means of their involvement, the companies participating in KURS 21 help to break down the traditional barriers between school and working life, enhancing the school teaching by practical work with a practical bearing on reality. They therefore make a major contribution to the training of qualified employees, and thus to the future prospects of the region.

The learning partnerships of KURS 21 in Wuppertal: Else-Lasker-Schüler-Gesamtschule & Metro Großhandelsgesellschaft mbH, Realschule Leimbacher Straße & Wuppertaler Stadtwerke AG, Städt. Gymnasium Sedanstraße & Johnson & Johnson GmbH, Hauptschule Katernberg & Raumfabrik GmbH, Carl-Fuhlrott Gymnasium & Bayer HealthCare AG, Gesamtschule Barmen & GEPA Fair Handelshaus, Gymnasium Bayreuther Straße & Muckenhaupt & Nusselt GmbH & Co. KG, Wilhelm-Dörpfeld Gymnasium & Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal, Gymnasium an der Siegesstraße & Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Carl Duisberg Gymnasium & Dupont Performance Coatings GmbH & Co. KG, Gymnasium Vohwinkel & Barmenia Versicherungen, Max-Planck-Realschule & Delphi Deutschland GmbH.

Further information is available from http://www.kurs21.de.