EXPLORING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
ith demand for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills increasing globally, talented STEM graduates are likely to find themselves in an enviable position when looking for jobs. Increasingly educators have recognised the need to incorporate creativity and problem solving into the STEM equation by including art and design, resulting in STEAM. According to Birmingham City University’s STEAMhouse – a new centre for innovation and creation which opened in the city in early 2018 – innovative projects across the world have proven that STEAM initiatives work to improve skills, create problem solving innovation and accelerate business growth. As new technologies emerge and impact upon every industry, a global skills shortage for talented individuals especially in the fields of science, engineering and technology is already causing headaches for employers trying to recruit staff.
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But international schools around the world are rising to the challenge with innovative ideas to excite pupil’s about careers in STEM and to encourage girls into fields such as engineering that have historically been male-dominated. We take a look at some of them.
SEISEN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, JAPAN Seisen International School, an all-girls international Catholic school in Japan is helping students to pursue science ‘in the real world’ through its Firebird initiative – a competitive science team. Firebird takes part in the Conrad Innovation Challenge, The Japanese Science and Engineering Challenge and Google Science Fair.
In 2015, five members of the original Firebird team invented the NASoPod, a portable and renewable energy heater that works without fossil fuels or electricity. In 2016 the team travelled to the Kennedy Space Center to present their invention in front of the judges. It resulted in the team of students filing a patent application and receiving requests to take the NaSoPod into production.
Last year saw inventions from the team such as Bonometal – a biodegradable material used to make screws and plates to repair broken bones instead of metal or plastic and Hydroshield 15 – a special fabric to protect astronauts from Galactic Cosmic Rays. “The Firebird Science Team is a great opportunity for students to use their knowledge and skills gained from many disciplines to make the world a better place, and to prove that scientific innovation can flourish in an all-girls school,” said Youkie Shiowzawa, class of 2018 and Firebird member.
ACS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS, UK AND QATAR ACS International
Schools
help their students
to
understand that their knowledge of a subject is not just confined to the classroom. An annual ‘Maker Day’ at ACS Cobham in Surrey encourages students of all ages to create anything, “From simple arts and craft designs to complex computer science projects,” explains Mark London, head of Marketing for the schools’ group.
“The summer Maker Camp involves creative technology activities, including making battery powered cars and trucks; building
mechanical moving robots; and designing and installing water irrigation systems for the school’s vegetable gardens,” he says. “By putting STEAM learning directly in their hands, students build confidence to ask questions, define problems and design their own solutions.”
centre
High tech facilities, such as a new £10 million science at ACS Hillingdon
with seven state-of-the-art
laboratories, a microbiology unit and new technology lab show the groups’ commitment to enhancing science learning.
Seisen International School Keep Informed |
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