08/14/2026 | Press Release

The University and the City Make Kassel a Pioneer in Germany for a Swimming Project

Experience water—but safely! That is the goal of the “Kasseler WELLE” project, a collaboration between the City of Kassel and the University of Kassel, in which more than 1,400 children from Kassel’s elementary schools are participating. This preventive program is the first of its kind in the German-speaking world. The project is made possible by more than 50 physical education students at the university.

Image: University of Kassel.
Media buzz surrounding the project's presentation.

The “Kasseler WELLE – Experience Water, Learn, Stay Alive” project is being implemented through close cooperation between the city’s Office for Schools and Education and the Sports Office, the University of Kassel, Städtische Werke, the State School Authority, and Kassel’s elementary schools. 

“With ‘Kasseler WELLE,’ we are launching a visionary project that not only teaches students basic swimming skills but also establishes a pioneering model for inclusive sports and preventive health promotion,” says Mayor Dr. Sven Schoeller with conviction. “Every child in Kassel should be able to swim. That is our stated goal, and with this program—which is likely the first of its kind—we are creating the best conditions for achieving that goal. Modern facilities and up-to-date learning programs will help to sustainably strengthen the water skills of children in Kassel every year, starting now.”

What exactly is the “Kasseler WELLE”?
In the first phase, the program is aimed at all second-graders in Kassel. “It doesn’t matter where the children live, what their social background is, or what skills they bring with them,” explains Mayor and Education Commissioner Nicole Maisch about the project. “After summer break, all these children will have the opportunity to spend a week at Kassel’s Auebad getting to know the water at their own pace. Every child should have the chance to experience the water as a safe and enjoyable place. The goal isn’t to earn a swimming certificate as quickly as possible, but to gain confidence in the water, learn to assess dangers, and build trust in their own abilities while having fun.”

For the children, both transportation to and from the pool and admission to the facility are free. The goal is to reach up to 2,000 children per grade level by 2030. Each class spends one week in the water, about 90 minutes a day. This year, 19 of the 26 elementary schools are already participating in the project. 

Who teaches the children at “Kasseler WELLE”?
The project is made possible by more than 50 physical education students at the University of Kassel. “Through the new course ‘Teaching and Assessment of Swimming Skills,’ students are not only trained in teaching swimming and water skills. They also learn the so-called evidence-based use of modern assessment methods. This enables targeted, individualized support for the children,” explains Dr. Sebastian Fischer, a research assistant at the Institute for Sport and Sports Science at the University of Kassel.

What does science have to do with “Kasseler WELLE”?
The University of Kassel supports “Kasseler WELLE” through a scientific evaluation. “A diagnostic program called EuViS enables instructors, together with the students, to digitally assess the children’s individual starting points for learning. Based on findings from sports science, the app identifies precisely tailored water exercises so that the students’ lessons can then be optimally adapted to the learners’ needs,” explains Dr. Fischer. 

The Kassel project receives support from Christoph Loose, Federal Commissioner for Schools at the German Life-Saving Association (DLRG): “It is particularly important to us to integrate this project into the school curriculum as part of a project week, as this allows us to reach all children. Water familiarization and learning to swim must be mandatory for all children and must not depend on their parents’ income.”

“Overall, the project demonstrates how research, teaching, and practice can go hand in hand: Students gain direct practical experience in swimming instruction and assessment, while the collaboration with municipal institutions yields lasting benefits for public swimming facilities and physical education in schools. The concepts and materials developed are made available free of charge to schools, clubs, and other institutions. This benefits society as a whole,” concludes Mayor Dr. Sven Schoeller.

 

Contact: 

Dr. Sebastian Fischer
, University of Kassel
; Web: https://www.uni-kassel.de/fb05/fachgruppen-und-institute/sport-und-sportwissenschaft/dr-sebastian-fischer.html
 

What does this mean in a nutshell? 

  • Researchers and students at the University of Kassel, in partnership with the City of Kassel, are making the “Kasseler WELLE” project possible 
  • It aims to teach all children in Kassel basic swimming skills and to establish an inclusive model for promoting sports and health.
  • In the first phase, the program is open to all second-graders, who will spend a week at Kassel’s Auebad getting comfortable in the water at their own pace.
  • The project is being carried out through close cooperation between city departments, the University of Kassel, the municipal utilities, the State School Board, and Kassel’s elementary schools.