In Germany, it is not only the individual's aptitudes and talents that determine their educational path, but often above all their family background. This is where NRW Talent Scouting comes in: A central goal of the programme is to give young people equal educational opportunities - regardless of their income, educational level or the background of their parents. Talented young people from less privileged backgrounds are to be encouraged to dare to study or do vocational training and are supported to succeed on this path.

The talent scouts of the UDE accompany upper school students from grammar schools, vocational colleges and comprehensive schools in Essen and Duisburg in their career and study orientation. The approach is outreach (counselling takes place in the schools), long-term (beyond the school years into university) and individual (individual appointments, open-ended).