1.Background
STEM education plays a crucial role in advancing global education reforms, fostering innovation, and equipping students with the skills needed for future technological and economic advancements. Secondary education is a pivotal stage for students to develop scientific literacy, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking skills. Strengthening the professional development of secondary STEM teachers ensures that students receive high-quality STEM education during this key learning phase, contributing to their long-term academic and professional success.
The UNESCO Teacher Education Centre (TEC) has long prioritized supporting the development of African primary and secondary school teachers. Over the past five years, TEC has successfully implemented a series of initiatives to support African teacher education through World Bank-funded programs, UNESCO-Africa cooperation projects and Chinese government supported projects,etc... Starting in 2025, UNESCO-TEC will launch the “China-Africa STEM Educators Acceleration Program” which will be held annually from 2025-2027, and the theme for 2025 program is “Professional Development for Secondary STEM Educators”.
The 2025 China-Africa STEM Educators Acceleration Program will last from Oct.12 to Oct.22 at Shanghai, including STEM education seminars and discussions, STEM classroom observations, STEM extracurricular activity centers visits, HiTech EDU companies visits,etc..Education Administrators or officials, specialists and researchers, lead secondary STEM teachers from African countries are welcomed to join in the program.
2.Expected outcome
The program aims to:
Facilitate exchanges between Chinese and African educators on effective STEM education practices and STEM teacher development, fostering mutual learning and collaboration.
Develop a cohort of African education administrators, experts, school leaders, and lead teachers equipped with the knowledge and skills to lead, implement, and promote STEM education.
Support African countries in advancing foundational education reforms, with a particular focus on STEM education, as a pathway to broader educational and societal development.
3.Capacity building
The program will combine lectures, discussions, field visits, and classroom observations.
Education Administrators: Participation for approximately five to seven days according to personal business agenda
STEM Teacher education researchers and specialists & STEM Teachers: Participation for approximately ten days
Each day will consist of a half-day of expert lectures and academic discussions, followed by a half-day of field visits, school observations, and interactive seminars on STEM education.
4.Target participants
The program will invite participants and specialists from African countries and international organizations of Africa, each country and international organization will nominate no more than eight participants, including:
Education Administrators or officials from Ministry of Education or international organizations in Africa (2 to 4 participants)
STEM Teacher Education Specialists or Researchers from national education research institutes, universities or teacher colleges (2 to 4participants)
Lead Secondary School STEM Teachers (1-2 participants)
5.Key timetable
Before April 30th: Submit applications via email
Before June 1st: Issue official invitation letters
October 12nd to October 22nd : 2025 China-Africa STEM Educators Acceleration Program
6.Contact information
Interested participants in the program are asked to complete the registration form as soon as possible and send it to songjia@shnu.edu.cnby their department or individual before the deadline. The deadline is April 30th, and we will notify the selected participants no later than June 1st and process their visas and air tickets.
Program coordinator:
Dr.Prof.Jia Song:songjia@shnu.edu.cn
The UNESCO Teacher Education Centre
Shanghai, China
Appendix A：
China-Africa STEM Educators Acceleration Program Registration Form.docx