The recent decision by UNESCO to establish the UNESCO International Institute for STEM Education (IISTEM) in Shanghai marks a significant step in global educational collaboration. This initiative, announced during the 42nd Session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris, positions China at the forefront of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education worldwide.
The IISTEM in Shanghai is the first UNESCO Category 1 Institute for STEM education to be established in China. Category 1 institutes play a pivotal role in UNESCO’s mission, functioning as incubators for innovation, standard-setters, facilitators of international cooperation, and hubs for information sharing and capacity building in their respective fields.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin highlighted China’s commitment to education, emphasizing STEM as a key area for nurturing innovative and versatile talent. Wang reaffirmed China’s dedication to collaborating with UNESCO on this project, aligning with the UN’s agenda for sustainable development and contributing to global peace and development.
This move follows UNESCO’s establishment of a teacher education center at Shanghai Normal University in 2017, a Category 2 Center. This center was preceded by two other Category 2 education centers in China: the International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education in Beijing and the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.
Ning Bo, a professor at the Research Institute for International and Comparative Education at Shanghai Normal University, and project manager at the UNESCO teacher education center, views the establishment of IISTEM as a recognition of China’s national strength and commitment to global community building. Ning also notes Shanghai’s growing influence in international education, highlighted by the city’s top performance in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests in 2009 and 2012.
Shanghai’s education system, recognized as one of the world’s strongest, is the result of effective policies and investments that have developed a robust teacher workforce, established clear learning standards, and maintained a balance between autonomy and accountability in school management. Shanghai’s success in PISA has shifted global attention to its education system, previously focused on models like Finland’s.
The establishment of the IISTEM in Shanghai reflects the city’s role as a pioneer in China’s reform and opening-up policy across various sectors. It signifies the city’s readiness to welcome international institutions and contribute to its cosmopolitan development.
The IISTEM serves as a platform for China to share its educational expertise with the world, particularly in STEM fields, attracting global expertise and resources to Shanghai. This will not only advance STEM education in China but also promote Shanghai’s economic and social development.
Through this significant UNESCO initiative, China aspires to provide the world with a comprehensive understanding of its developmental path from educational and cultural perspectives. The IISTEM in Shanghai is thus poised to become a cornerstone in global STEM education, enhancing China’s influence on the world stage and fostering international cooperation in the field of education.
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