International Dialogue on STEM Education

International STEM Network for sustainable development

The peers of the International Dialogue on STEM Education at their second network meeting in Helsinki.
Together with the foundation Stiftung Kinder Forschen, we lead the global peer network International Dialogue on STEM Education (IDoS). The network connects global education stakeholders and developers in the field of early childhood STEM education for Sustainable Development along with local networks in an international ecosystem for education innovation. Interaction and collaboration within the IDoS network supports locally-anchored and globally-informed STEM education development. Currently, there are six members: Siemens Stiftung, Stiftung Kinder Forschen, Smithsonian Science Education Center, LUMA Finnland, La main á la pâte, and Office for Climate Education. 

Education, and STEM education for sustainable development in particular, is essential for preparing children for thriving in a quickly-changing world. This belief unites education stakeholders around the world, whether they work in research or in the classroom. There are several national initiatives and programs that advance early education in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects. Mostly missing has been an international dialog among stakeholders – until now. In a globalized world that can only address great challenges through international cooperation, it is essential to share concepts and practices for early childhood and scholastic learning.

Sustainable from the start: Early childhood STEM education in focus

Together with the foundation Stiftung Kinder Forschen and under the patronage of the German UNESCO Commission, we launched the biannual International Dialogue on STEM conference in 2017 to learn from each other through the exchange of new ideas and inspiration. Since then, our initiative has expanded and become a peer network that makes systematic and regular interaction at an international level possible: Anyone involved can learn from and with global leaders in early childhood STEM education (known as “IDoS Peers”) and make national efforts in this field more efficient, effective, and evidence-based.

Based on global future competencies

The network is aligned with global education and sustainability goals as defined by the OECD Learning Compass 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Participating organizations working within their own national networks join the IDoS network in supporting an “ecosystem for education innovation” in which STEM education (for sustainable development) can be developed, professionalized, and impactfully implemented on a global scale.

project-bildung-idos-lernpapier

Learning Paper:

»How can networks help encourage the development and professionalisation of innovative early STEM Education in a changing world?«

IDoS Peer Meetings 2021 - 2023

Starting in June 2021, leading education organisations meet for an international peer dialogue on STEM education. There are currently six members: Siemens Stiftung, Stiftung Kinder Forschen, Smithsonian Science Education Center, LUMA Finland, La main á la pâte and Office for Climate Education. The network, which shares best practice from education work around the world, is constantly expanding.

IDoS 2019: Conference on STEM education for sustainable development

The second International Dialogue on STEM Education brought more than 100 participants to Berlin for a conference on early childhood education. The participants from 30 countries included experts; decision-makers in the policy, economy, civil society, and culture sectors; and representatives from leading global initiatives. On 5 and 6 December 2019, the conference focused on everything pertaining to STEM education for sustainable development. Based on the conference’s guiding question, “How can we use STEM education to enable children to create sustainable societies?”, workshops addressed a number of subjects, such as integrating indigenous knowledge into education, design thinking approaches for developing education innovation, and policy implementation of STEM initiatives.

Common goals

2019 was also the first time the conference published a position paper, “Using Science to Do Social Good: STEM Education for Sustainable Development,” which cemented the commitment of all signatories within the international alliance.

Video Series: Watch our peers explain how the IDoS network has supported their projects.

What is the relevance of high-quality STEM Education for Sustainable Development? And why are education networks and initiatives like the International Dialogue on STEM Education (IDoS) so important? Peers of the International Dialogue answer these two questions with regards to their own STEM organisations.
Badin Borde, Photographer: Cléber De Paula and Leonardo De Paula

»Working with our international network is the best way to create permanent momentum in the global education system«

Partners

A solid team for STEM education

The International Dialogue on STEM is an initiative by Siemens Stiftung and the Stiftung Kinder Forschen. The peer dialog also receives support from the Smithsonian Science Education Center.

Are you interested in becoming a part of our international network, or would you like to learn more about it? Don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Project manager international networks
Badin Borde