More than 200 organizations join hands to transform education for sustainable communities in Latin America
“Collaborate to Transform: Sustainable Communities and Territories,” the conference hosts hundreds of participants from across Latin America.
© Siemens Stiftung
The V Encuentro brings together representatives from universities, schools, researchers, local and regional educational authorities, nonprofit institutions, and international organizations in Lima, Peru, from July 21-23. Initiated by Siemens Stiftung, the three-day education conference is co-organized by Red STEM Latinoamérica, Instituto Apoyo, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and CIDSTEM at Pontifícia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso.
The meeting is an innovative and collaborative space that fosters enriching ex-changes to strengthen the STEMplus approach. Under the theme “Collaborate to Transform: Sustainable Communities and Territories,” the fifth edition will host hundreds of participants from all across Latin America. They join forces to ideate and execute pathways to tackle educational roadblocks and to shape the future.
From knowledge to action: STEMplus education
“At a time when climate change, digital transformation, and global uncertainty are reshaping our world, education remains our most powerful lever for sustainable development. The interdisciplinary STEMplus approach combines technological skills with critical thinking, creativity, and empathy to empower students and teachers to develop solutions to real-world problems,” says Dr. Nina Smidt, CEO of the international foundation, Siemens Stiftung.
These critical issues will be explored through multiple formats, including in-person sessions, workshops, panels, and live streaming. The opening session will feature Alejandro Piscitelli, the Argentine philosopher and leading voice on digital culture, who will launch the challenge “Hacking Education.” In addition, three “STEM Talks” will bring together Daniel Alfaro, former Minister of Education of Peru; Ana Silva, a schoolteacher; and Johans Ríos, researcher and coach at Magia STEM, to share their experiences in advancing innovative approaches to learning.
An ecosystem transforming communities
A key goal of Red STEM Latinoamérica is to empower teachers as changemakers. Coordinated by the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, the regional network of “STEM+ Teacher Learning Communities” strengthens collaboration among educators across Latin America.
Educators convene to exchange practical experiences, reflect on their teaching practices, and co-create solutions to the challenges in their classrooms and communities. They will participate in workshops on the co-creation of contex-tualized Open Educational Resources, while dedicated sessions on Climate Change Education will explore the territorial impacts of climate change in Latin America to strengthen collaboration and advance climate action.
“When experiences come together, perspectives broaden, collaborative networks are strengthened, bonds of trust are formed, and new ideas and initiatives emerge,” says Dr. Nina Ibaceta Guerra, researcher at CIDSTEM PUCV and coor-dinator of the STEM+ Teacher Learning Communities.
The conference gives youth a voice. 7 women from across the region, including 3 winners of the “Young Climate Scientists Award”, present environmental, health, and inclusive learning projects at the “Young Women in STEM+ Forum”, demon-strating how inquiry-based education hones exploratory and sustainable life skills.
Peru: Epicenter of educational innovation
At the conference, Peru and its capital, Lima, emerge as focal points for advancing quality education and strengthening collaborative action. “Considering cultural diversity, social needs, economic conditions, and sustainable development, the Encuentro will showcase innovative teaching approaches that integrate different areas of knowledge and develop civic competencies to improve people’s lives,” says Mayte Morales, Executive Director of Instituto APOYO.
This commitment is further advanced through the STEM+ Territories network, comprising 55 territories in 8 Latin American countries. By fostering collective im-pact partnerships, the territories develop locally rooted educational ecosystems that enable students to thrive in the face of social, environmental, and technologi-cal transformations. Peru consolidates this network with STEM+ Territories in Met-ropolitan Lima and the regions of Arequipa, Cusco, Cajamarca, and Apurímac.
Roadmap for the future: Lima Declaration
The three-day conference will culminate in the “Lima Declaration,” a jointly devel-oped roadmap reaffirming the shared commitment to fostering responsible citizens equipped with 21st-century skills. It underscores the importance of empowering the next generation to contribute to climate action, navigate the culture of digitality, and shape sustainable communities.
Our partners
Red STEM Latinoamérica
Red STEM Latinoamérica is a regional ecosystem for educational and social inno-vation, coordinated by the international Siemens Stiftung. It brings together institu-tions across Latin America and the Caribbean to foster collaboration, exchange knowledge, and advance a shared vision for transforming education.
Guided by the Monterrey Declaration (2023), the network is committed to devel-oping responsible, empathetic, and engaged citizens who actively contribute to building sustainable communities and territories. It promotes STEMplus as an innovative, interdisciplinary approach to holistic education that equips learners with the competencies needed to address today’s social, environmental, and tech-nological challenges. It brings together more than 200 organizations from 14 countries, representing governments, academia, schools, teachers, civil society, the private sector, museums, and other formal and non-formal learning environ-ments. Together, they work to drive systemic educational transformation across the region.
https://educacion.stem.siemens-stiftung.org/red-stem-latinoamerica/
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH)
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia is a privately managed, non-profit associ-ation and a key player in the national educational landscape in Peru. It has as its fundamental purpose to transform people into agents of scientific, technological, social, and environmental change through lifelong learning. It prepares profes-sionals with a social and ethical commitment who provide comprehensive, impact-ful solutions grounded in solid research and respect for diversity and the environ-ment, across undergraduate, graduate, specialization, and continuing education programs.
https://cayetano.edu.pe/
Center for Research in Science Education and STEM Education (CIDSTEM) at Pontificia Universidad Católica of Valparaiso, Chile
To generate, advance, and apply knowledge in the teaching of science, mathe-matics, and engineering through a STEM education perspective that promotes the well-being of individuals, communities, and the environment. The center fosters professional development to strengthen teaching and science outreach across biology, chemistry, physics, geography, mathematics, and engineering by bringing together academic, professional, and local knowledge. It also builds strong part-nerships between universities, schools, non-formal learning environments, and local communities, serving as a model for advancing science education in the public interest.
https://cidstem.cl/
Instituto APOYO
An organization founded by the APOYO Group with more than 30 years of experi-ence in the design, management, and implementation of high-impact educational projects and programs in Peru and Latin America. We seek to promote an educa-tion for life that contributes to the development of active and competent citizens by fostering 21st-century skills in children and youth. We achieve this through inter-institutional agreements with the Ministry of Education, regional governments, and the private sector.
https://institutoapoyo.org.pe/
Siemens Stiftung Regional Office, Latin America
Ulrike Wahl
ulrike.wahl@siemens-stiftung.org
Press contact
Communications / Head of Media Relations
Jagori Dhar
jagori.dhar@siemens-stiftung.org
+49 172 7215 736
Learn more
Collaborate to Transform: Encuentro Red STEM 2026
The conference promotes the exchange of ideas and the further development of the STEMplus approach. The Encuentro brings together participants from Latin America to develop educational solutions.
