The UNESCO International Institute for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Education was officially inaugurated in Shanghai on Sunday, which is the first global Category 1 Institute of UNESCO in the Asia-Pacific region, marking a big step forward for China in enhancing the development, cooperation and promotion of STEM education globally.

The establishment of the institute was first announced by UNESCO at a session held in Paris in November 2023. Its main functions are to promote inclusive, equitable, suitable and quality STEM education at all stages from early childhood to adulthood, and to serve as a center for communication, networking, resources and capacity building in STEM education. The institute will also support UNESCO's strategy and the needs of its member states, contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda and promoting world peace and development.

STEM education is essential for cultivating future innovative talents in digital technology and promote the global development of STEM education, which is conducive to addressing the profound and complex impacts of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation on sustainable development.

China's Education Minister Huai Jinpeng stated that the foundation of the institute marks a significant historical milestone in the cooperation between China and UNESCO, and it stands as a testament to their joint efforts in advancing open science, open education and cultural exchanges.

The institute will be supported to become a cradle of advanced STEM education concepts, a testing ground for educational ideas, as well as an international cooperation platform to drive educational transformation, technological innovation, and serve global sustainable development, he said.

Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, pointed out that Shanghai, with its concentration of knowledge, scientific innovation and historical heritage, provides the ideal location for establishing such an institute. The long-standing partnership between UNESCO and China makes the establishment of the institute in Shanghai a visionary and significant endeavor. The institute will join UNESCO's global network of Category 1 institutes, advancing STEM science, promoting equitable global education, and helping address shared challenges for humans.