Saudi Gazette report
PARIS — The King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) signed a partnership agreement with UNESCO to enhance STEM education across Arab countries. This collaboration aims to advance innovation, creativity, and scientific excellence in the region.
The agreement, signed by Mawhiba Deputy Secretary-General for Business Development and Communication Abdulaziz Al-Subail and UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences Dr. Lidia Arthur Brito, marks a significant step in empowering young Arab minds and promoting sustainable development through education.
Mawhiba Secretary-General Dr. Amal Al-Hazzaa emphasized the foundation's commitment to supporting STEM education. She highlighted the importance of this partnership in fostering scientific knowledge, creativity, and critical thinking among students from 6th to 12th grade, with a focus on empowering Arab girls and young women.
Dr. Brito expressed her happiness with the partnership, noting that it addresses a key area of UNESCO’s work in science. She stated that the collaboration aims to equip young people with the necessary knowledge and skills to tackle global challenges and expand these efforts globally, including to Africa.
The partnership will feature the MAWHIBA-UNESCO Online STEM Oasis, a platform for science and engineering fairs, and real-time assessments to improve educational standards. It also focuses on training Arab science teachers and enhancing public understanding of STEM, particularly for preschoolers and young women.
Mawhiba plans to leverage the UNESCO Open Science Portal and Science-2-Innovation Network to build global STEM capacity. Over the past three years, Mawhiba has supported 839 Arab students through STEM programs, setting a benchmark for regional cooperation.
This collaboration aims to inspire young Arabs to pursue STEM careers and address global challenges like climate change and health crises. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to building a brighter future through STEM education, ensuring every young Arab has the opportunity to thrive and innovate.
