2024 Summer Children’s University Camps at the STEAM Office!
What happens when one of the country’s leading technical universities, the most popular building game, and the talents of the future meet? In the summer of 2024, the STEAM Office of Obuda University and the Hungarian STEAM Platform proved that learning can also be an exciting adventure: in our three thematic camps, we opened a gateway to science and technology through the world of Minecraft.
More than a game: Minecraft-based STEAM career orientation
Between June 24 and August 2, virtual reality came to life at three faculties of the university. The uniqueness of the camps was provided by Minecraft Java Edition, further developed by Obuda University, which served not merely as a game, but as a pedagogically structured, interactive learning space. Our goal was for children to solve complex engineering and IT problems in a playful way, while developing their algorithmic thinking and creativity.
Three camps, three exciting worlds
During the summer, campers could get a closer look at three completely different, yet deeply connected fields of expertise. At the John von Neumann Faculty of Informatics, the 10–14 age group went from the world of hardware all the way to the LUA programming language in our camp called “Programming in the World of Minecraft“. Using Visual Studio Code, the youth built and controlled complex systems within the game, such as automated mining or modern security networks.
Parallel to this, military security and asset protection were in focus at the Donát Bánki Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering. Children could try everything from protecting historical castles to designing modern camera systems and access control in our camp “Military Security and Asset Protection in the World of Minecraft”. Furthermore, during the construction of a robust virtual castle system, they not only acquired technical knowledge but also learned the true importance of resource management and teamwork.
In the third shift, at the Kálmán Kandó Faculty of Electrical Engineering – supported by MVM Zrt. – sustainability and green energy played the main role in our camp “Developing an Island City with Green Energy in the World of Minecraft“. Campers worked on the energy reconstruction of an abandoned island city, while discovering the operation of solar, wind, and nuclear energy, as well as the deepest secrets of smart city construction in a playful format.
Expertise in the background
The success of the programs was guaranteed by the dedicated professionals of the STEAM Office. Zoltán Márton, camp leader, shaped the educational material of energy, safety technology, and cybersecurity into an experience-centered format, while Sándor Kirchhof, practice leader, was responsible for the special Minecraft modifications and technological solutions. Through their work, students received not only theoretical knowledge but also direct insight into university life and the beauty of the engineering profession.
Why is this important for the future?
The Summer Children’s University is not just a leisure program, but a strategic career orientation model. We believe that if children encounter engineering disciplines early on in an understandable and enjoyable format, it can fundamentally define their later career choices. The friendships formed during the camps, the joint projects, and the experiences of success all contribute to building a conscious and prepared generation of the future.
Thank you to all participants for this unforgettable summer! The programs of the STEAM Office and the Hungarian STEAM Platform do not stop here: based on the experiences of the camps, we continue our talent management work and Minecraft-based educational development.
Join us in the future as well on the frontier of science and play!
