TiL in Conversation: Equal Opportunities for All?

I had the privilege of moderating the opening event of the discussion series for Talent im Land’s 20th anniversary year. On May 10, about 35 attentive listeners gathered to take part in a fascinating debate on educational equity. Our distinguished guests were Dr. Ulrike Leikhof and Prof. Gabriele Weigand, who shared their perspectives on the links between social background, migration history, and the development of talent.

Dr. Ulrike Leikhof is Head of Department at Bildung & Begabung, the talent development center of the federal and state governments. She is committed to supporting young people regardless of their background and helping them fully develop their potential. Prof. Gabriele Weigand is a professor at the renowned University of Education in Karlsruhe and coordinator of the nationwide initiative “Leistung macht Schule”, which promotes the advancement of high-achieving students across Germany.

We discussed the strong connection between social background and talent development, which has been proven in numerous studies. Our guests explained this from different perspectives, highlighting factors such as lack of knowledge about the education system, lower self-confidence, and reduced expectations from school staff.

Ulrike Leikhof and Gabriele Weigand emphasized the need for a fundamental shift in attitude toward students. They called for each individual to be viewed and supported personally, regardless of their social “category.” While this cannot yet be fully implemented everywhere, both are already working to promote students independent of their background.

At the end of the event, inspiring contributions and questions from the audience enriched the discussion. We all agreed that scholarship programs such as Talent im Land provide crucial support. We also highlighted the importance of critically reflecting on biases and personal perspectives as key steps toward greater educational equity.

If you missed the discussion or would like to watch it again, you can do so here.