Financial Literacy for All Lower Saxony’s Minister for Finance attends launch of new course
How do I plan my budget? What insurance do I really need? And how does sustainable investing work? The course “Financial Literacy for All”, launched in the 2025/26 winter semester, offers a practical financial education programme for students at Technische Universität Braunschweig. Following an exceptionally high level of interest in the topic, with over 400 registrations, the Institute of Finance is offering an additional intensive course during the lecture-free period. Lower Saxony’s Finance Minister Gerald Heere and Dietmar Smyrek, TU Vice-President for Human Resources, Finance and University Infrastructure, were also present at the kick-off on 25 March, which was attended by around 150 students.
Kick-off for “Financial Literacy for All” (from left): Dietmar Smyrek, TU Vice-President for Human Resources, Finance and University Infrastructure, Honorary Professor Alexander Tourneau, Chairman of the Board of Öffentliche Versicherung Braunschweig, Julia Eckert from the Institute of Finance, Janina Brunkhorst from the Großes Waisenhaus Foundation, Lower Saxony’s Minister of Finance Gerald Heere, Christine Schultz from the Braunschweig Savings Bank Foundation, Linda Taubert from the Braunschweig State Savings Bank and Ann-Kathrin Frohmüller from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Photo credits: Silja Klemenz/TU Braunschweig
Who isn’t familiar with the saying “You don’t talk about money”, which is meant to signal modesty and avoid envy? The course challenges this maxim. Together with industry partners from the region, Julia Eckert from the Institute of Finance teaches fundamental financial skills that are often neglected in schools.
“This course is a new, essential component of our university’s educational offering,” said Vice-President Dietmar Smyrek in his opening address. “The topic of financial planning will accompany you throughout your entire life.”
Lower Saxony’s Finance Minister Gerald Heere echoed this sentiment, drawing on his own career path, which began with a degree and a role as a research assistant at TU Braunschweig. “Financial education helps ensure that no one is disadvantaged due to a lack of information or insufficient knowledge.”
Around 150 students took part in the kick-off event for the intensive course. Photo credits: Silja Klemenz/TU Braunschweig
Gerald Heere, Lower Saxony’s Minister for Finance, gave a keynote speech on financial education. Photo credits: Silja Klemenz/TU Braunschweig
Dietmar Smyrek, TU Vice-President for Human Resources, Finance and University Infrastructure, during his opening address. Photo credits: Silja Klemenz/TU Braunschweig
First, students are given an introduction to the basic concepts of finance. Photo credits: Silja Klemenz/TU Braunschweig
During this intensive course, students learn about key aspects of personal financial planning. Photo credits: Silja Klemenz/TU Braunschweig
The course provides practical financial training. Photo credits: Silja Klemenz/TU Braunschweig
Personal Financial Planning
During this intensive course, students are introduced to key topics in personal financial planning. They begin with an introduction to fundamental concepts in finance, including interest rates, inflation, risk and return, and an overview of how financial markets operate. Building on this, they explore how to organise income and expenditure, set financial goals and build an emergency fund. Another key focus is on the proper management of loans and debt.
Students are familiarised with various forms of credit, such as overdrafts, instalment loans and mortgages, as well as their cost structures, and are made aware of typical risks associated with debt. Furthermore, the course covers the basics of saving, wealth accumulation and investing, for example in shares, bonds and ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), as well as common mistakes made when investing. Further topics include retirement provision and pension planning. Students learn how statutory, occupational and private pension schemes work and examine the so-called pension gap.
Together with industry partners, Julia Eckert from the Institute of Finance teaches fundamental financial skills. Photo credits: Silja Klemenz/TU Braunschweig
Cooperation with industry partners from the region
A distinctive feature of the course is the close collaboration with industry partners from the region. For instance, Honorary Professor Alexander Tourneau, CEO of Öffentliche Versicherung Braunschweig, leads the module on financial risks and insurance, bringing practical insights from the insurance sector. In addition, Braunschweiger Sparkasse is also participating with practical presentations in which experts such as Linda Taubert provide insights into the topics of loans, debt and retirement provision.
In the long term, ‘Financial Literacy for All’ is set to become part of a broader financial education initiative. A financial education day is planned for trainees in the autumn, to be held in cooperation with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Chamber of Crafts. In spring 2027, a similar event will also be held for residents of the Braunschweig region.
The event is supported by the Braunschweigische Sparkassenstiftung and the Großes Waisenhaus Foundation.