The UNESCO International Institute for STEM Education held a high-level expert seminar and its first governing board meeting in Shanghai on May 14. UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany, Chinese Vice Minister of Education Ren Youqun, who also heads the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, and Shanghai Vice Mayor Xie Dong addressed the meeting.

Ren said rapid advances in science and technology, along with ongoing industrial transformation, have increased global demand for innovative STEM talent. He noted that China proposed the establishment of the institute with UNESCO support, and said the initiative had received broad backing from UNESCO member states.

He expressed hope that the institute would develop into a global platform for STEM education, policy dialogue, international cooperation and capacity building, contributing to progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The event featured presentations and discussions by internationally recognized scholars and scientists, including Nobel laureate John Michael Kosterlitz, Turing Award winner Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, Fields Medalists Efim Zelmanov and Caucher Birkar, neuroscientist Pu Muming, former World Federation of Engineering Organizations President Gong Ke, and former Executive Director at the African Academy of Sciences, Peggy Oti-Boateng.

Participants discussed STEM education and future talent development, providing input for the institute’s strategic planning. During the governing board meeting, Gong Ke was elected chair, and members reviewed the institute’s medium-term strategy, annual work plan and project budget.