The UNESCO International Institute for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education was inaugurated in Shanghai, China this month under a UN resolution for promoting “inclusive, equitable and quality education for all.” It prioritizes Africa and the least developed countries (LDCs) as well as the small-island nations. It is the first of its kind to be established by the organization in 14 years.
The choice of the Chinese city as the headquarters was “a natural one,” said UNESCO Director Khaled El-Enany to the South China Morning Post. “Over the past decade, Asia has become a major center of research and innovation, and China is at the heart of that transformation. This is the result of sustained investment in technology, talent and education. Shanghai embodies this momentum.”