Mawhiba Partners With UNESCO To Elevate STEM Education In Arab Countries

The King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, has entered into a partnership with UNESCO to bolster STEM education in Arab countries. This collaboration aims to enhance innovation, creativity, and scientific excellence in the region.

UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences Dr. Lidia Arthur Brito and Saudi Ambassador to France and Monaco Fahd bin Mayouf Al-Ruwaili were present at the signing ceremony. The agreement was signed by Mawhiba deputy secretary-general for business development and communication Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Subail and UNESCO’s Brito.

Mawhiba secretary-general Dr. Amal bint Abdullah Al-Hazzaa expressed the foundation's honour in partnering with UNESCO. She highlighted the shared goal of empowering young Arab minds through education and innovation, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 under King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Dr. Brito emphasized that this strategic partnership aims to equip young people with essential knowledge and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She noted that Mawhiba's experience with youth in Saudi Arabia would be valuable globally, potentially extending efforts to Africa and other regions.

The partnership will focus on improving STEM education for students from 6th grade to 12th grade across Arab states. It aims to refine their scientific knowledge, nurture creativity, and foster critical thinking. Special attention will be given to empowering Arab girls and young women in STEM fields.

A key component of this initiative is the MAWHIBA-UNESCO Online STEM Oasis. This platform will host local, national, and regional science and engineering fairs, providing Arab students with opportunities to showcase their talents internationally.

Teacher Training and Public Understanding

The collaboration will also involve real-time assessments of middle and high schools in Arab states to improve educational standards. Training programs for Arab science teachers will be implemented to enhance their ability to lead research projects and guide students effectively.

Public understanding of STEM will be promoted through targeted training programs for preschoolers and young women. This ensures inclusivity and accessibility of STEM education across Arab states.

Global Impact

Mawhiba is committed to expanding the use of the UNESCO Open Science Portal and the UNESCO Science-2-Innovation Network. These tools aim to build the capacity of young scientists and women in STEM education globally.

Over the past three years, Mawhiba has supported 839 students from Arab states through enriching STEM programs. This sets a precedent for regional cooperation in STEM education.

Addressing Global Challenges

The partnership underscores Mawhiba’s leading role in discovering talents and empowering students locally and internationally. By joining forces with UNESCO, Mawhiba aims to address global challenges such as climate change, health crises, and technological disruptions.

This collaboration seeks to inspire young Arab minds to pursue careers in STEM by providing access to cutting-edge research through initiatives like the UNESCO Open Science Portal.

The partnership between Mawhiba and UNESCO signifies a commitment to building capacities in STEM fields for sustainable development. They aim to create an environment where every young Arab mind can thrive, innovate, and contribute globally.

This initiative highlights the importance of investing in future generations by ensuring every child has opportunities in science and technology.

With inputs from SPA