Saudi Arabia's Mawhiba has signed an agreement with UNESCO to promote STEM education in Arab countries
Paris: Maviba, an endowment organization that aims to nurture talented Saudi students in scientific fields, has signed a partnership agreement with UNESCO to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in Arab countries.
The agreement was signed in Paris on July 19 by MAVIBA Under-Secretary-General for Trade Development and Communications Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Subail and UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences Lydia Arthur Brito, according to a statement issued by MAVIBA. Saudi Press Agency.
Mawhiba is the short name of the King Abdulaziz and His Friends Foundation for Gifts and Creativity, which was organized in 1999 in honor of the founding king of Saudi Arabia.
Brito said the partnership aims to increase STEM education for 6th grade to 12th grade students in Arab states, “focused on refining their scientific knowledge, nurturing creativity, and fostering critical thinking.”
It sought to “provide young people with the necessary knowledge and skills and motivate them to use science, technology, engineering and mathematics to tackle global challenges,” she said.
Brito said that the experience will help share these experiences globally, “there is a possibility to expand these efforts to Africa and other parts of the world to promote the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Special attention will be given to empowering Arab girls and young women, to ensure they have equal opportunities to excel in STEM fields, she said.
Maviba has identified 97,000 gifted students out of more than 300,000 screened in over 100 towns and villages across the state. Its sponsorship of more than 54,000 students and its participation in international science competitions for talented youth have earned global recognition for the state.
Saudi students have so far won more than 397 medals and awards in these competitions, developed more than 16,000 ideas, received 15 patents and more than 1,000 Saudi students have been accepted into the world's top 50 prestigious universities in specific subjects that meet the requirements. National Development Plans, the SPA report said.
Mawiba Secretary General Amal Bint Abdullah Al-Hajja emphasized the shared commitment to empower young Arab minds and advance sustainable development through education and innovation. He emphasized the importance of this collaboration within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030.
The centerpiece of the initiative is the MAWHIBA-UNESCO Online STEM Oasis, which will serve as a global platform for local, national and regional science and engineering fairs.
The partnership will focus on training Arab science teachers to lead research and guide students in scientific projects, which will increase the overall quality of STEM education, a Mawhiba news release said.
“Mawhiba is committed to expanding the use of the UNESCO Open Science Portal and the UNESCO Science-2-Innovation Network 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 the enrichment of STEM programs, setting a precedent for regional cooperation and development in STEM education,” it added.
By joining forces with UNESCO, Maviba aims to expand its capacity to address global challenges such as climate change, health crises and technological disruptions, it said.
