In November, the first schools were awarded the gifted seal "Begabungssensible Schule. Inclusive" (BegIN). WWithin a festive ceremony hosted by the Government of Lower Bavaria in Landshut seven schools were awarded. In an audit process, these schools were able to demonstrate that they have sustainably developed site-specific, talent-sensitive cultures, structures and practices and have anchored inclusive talent development in their school's mission statement in the long term in accordance with the BegIN concept.

BegIN was developed and supported by representatives of the Government of Lower Bavaria, the University of Passau and the University College of Christian Churches of Teacher Education Vienna/ Krems. The project startet 2021/22 and aims the implementation of a competence center for Inclusive Gifted Education in Lower Bavaria via the scientific supported certification of pilot schools, the corresponding qualification of educational experts and the development of mentoring and counseling structures.

The BegIN project does not explicitly focus on diagnostic and support in the area of the highly gifted, but rather and in particular on the development of a systematic and diversity-sensitive culture of support at the schools and in the classrooms.

The following schools were successfully certified:

• Elementary School Sankt Martin in Deggendorf
• Elementary School Hohenpfahl in Kelheim
• Elementary School Landau an der Isar
• Elementary School Sankt Wolfgang in Landshut
• Elementary School Sankt Martin in Deggendorf
• Kunstgrundschule Sankt Peter und Paul in Landshut
• Institut für Hören und Sprache (Sonderpädagogische Förderzentrum) in Straubing
• Elementary School Buch am Erlbach and Kunstgrundschule Haidenhof in Passau are currently still in the certification process.