Education Shapes the Future

United Nations Day in Dresden

Dresden, Germany — UNU-FLORES, together with its partners, convened the commemoration of United Nations Day (UN Day) at the Dresden City Hall under the theme Education Shapes the Future. As the only UN entity based in Dresden, UNU FLORES uses UN Day to engage with the local community on topics of national and international interest.  

Dialogue on Education: Perspectives from Panelists

The discussion was moderated by Prof. Christian Lessmann of the Dresden University of Technology.

UNU-FLORES Director Prof. Edeltraud Guenther highlighted that education challenges and opportunities vary greatly across countries. The discussion explored how early the gender gap in STEM subjects (Mathematics, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, and Technology) begins and how innovative learning approaches can help reduce educational inequalities.

Prof. Kamila Cygan Rehm of the Dresden University of Technology emphasized that more children should attend early childcare and noted that dividing pupils into Mittelschule and Gymnasium tracks in Germany happens too early, an observation supported by numerous studies.

Henriette Greulich of the Dresden University of Technology shared that an Orientierungsjahr (orientation year) at university has been very well received, as it allows students to explore different subjects before selecting a degree path.

Frank Boesenberg of Silicon Saxony discussed the industry perspective in Saxony, stressing the importance of connecting education and business.

The panel concurred that fostering both STEM competencies and strong social skills is vital to prepare learners for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

2025: A Year of Multiple Milestones  

UN Day 2025 also marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 50th anniversary of the United Nations University.

UN Day marks the conclusion of a series of special events held throughout 2025, including the Dresden Nexus Conference, the Annual Assembly of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, and the Dresden International Forum, all of which our Institute played a key role in as part of efforts to advance dialogue and knowledge exchange.

Prof. Edeltraud Guenther, UNU-FLORES Director