A call for registration is ongoing for the UNESCO Continental Conference: Transforming Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Africa.
UNESCO, the African Union Commission (AUC), and key continental organizations are co-organizing this three-day conference to forge a continent-wide strategic partnership to build a transformative Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) ecosystem. This comprehensive approach, coupled with strong collaboration among stakeholders aims to position Africa as an equal player in the future of STEM education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and engineering.
This conference aims to identify the root causes of challenges hindering STEM education, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Africa, and to develop effective strategies to overcome them and unlock the continent’s development potential.
- The specific objectives of the conference are to catalyze transformation actions and partnerships to:
- Strengthen the foundations of STEM education to align curricula with local needs, real-world applications, and basic literacy and numeracy, and empower teachers with effective and gender-responsive pedagogical skills and other necessary resources to enhance interactive STEM teaching and learning.
- Advance gender equality and inclusion in and through STEM by addressing the root causes of gender gaps, stereotypes, and biases to create an inclusive and equitable STEM ecosystem and establish networks of eminent women in STEM to mentor and inspire the next generation.
- Foster STEM innovation, entrepreneurship, and excellence by building entrepreneurship capacity, fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government, and strengthening R&D infrastructure and research-industry partnerships.
- Promote STEM financing, diplomacy, and partnerships through increased funding, public-private partnerships, and international collaboration in STEM, and by leveraging science diplomacy to address Africa’s development challenges while retaining and attracting STEM talent.
Theme: Educate an African fit for the 21st Century
Eligibility
Participants at the conference will represent a wide range of stakeholders, including:
- Businesses, industries, and private sector companies that can catalyze innovation, entrepreneurship, and excellence;
- African Ministries and other relevant government bodies crucial to shaping policies, allocating resources, and creating an enabling environment for STEM education and innovation;
- Universities, research centers, and schools driving gender-transformative and inclusive STEM education;
- African STEM experts,
- Researchers and entrepreneurs contributing valuable knowledge, experience, and networks; and
- International and philanthropic organizations and partners providing financial and technical assistance to support STEM development in Africa.
Venue: African Union Conference Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Conference dates: November 26-28, 2024.
To register for the Continental Conference: Transforming Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in Africa, click here.
Deadline: November 05, 2024.
For more information on Continental Conference: Transforming Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in Africa, visit the official site.
