STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) has proven invaluable since our ancient and now in our modern societies. The concepts have evolved and particularly advanced over time with the different explorations and revolutionaries that have happened by the incredible works of creative and innovative global heroes. What has stood out as the bare truth is that, the more the concepts have evolved and advanced, the more impactful and relevant they have become to our daily lives.

In the Global north, clear evidences exist to elaborate how STEM has been well learned and applied to create overwhelming impact on daily lives of their societies. The advancements in health, agriculture, urbanisation, transport, security, communication, technology, trade and commerce, to name but a few sectors have all resulted from persistent advancement in STEM and its influences.

On the contrary, the Global south presents quite a different testimony as its has not yet fully exploited the opportunities that are associated with STEM advancement and applicability. Still, the enrollment to STEM subjects is still low in schools with females enrolling at a significantly lower rate than males. And the practibality of the STEM concepts similarly still remains low in the learning process at the schools. Hugely though, various curricula have yet to embrace computer literacy as part of the subjects being skilled to learners.

Further more, the world of work in the Global south continues to evolve with digital technology as entrepreneurs seeks to achieve accuracy, consistency and effeciency in their business operations. This immediately necessitates that skilling instititutions should equally adapt to the world of work skill set requirements while training their academicians. But unfortunately, this divide stills exists as the world of work and the skilling institutions have yet to operate in a perfect sync.

It is therefore important that efforts should be constantly made to bridge the gap through dialogues, innovations and other different engagements that are geared towards ensuring that learners, skilling insititutions and the industry are all operating in a perfect sync. This has huge potential to tackling the persistent outcry of youth unemploymet as the labour supply can significantly coincide with the labour demand requirements.

African STEM Education Initiative founded and operating on the principals of providing a holistic transformation of young people and disadvantaged communities through STEM projects considers it necessary to contribute towards bridging of this gap and to that effect, it has partnered with Enactus UNSW to organize a virtual STEM careers day.

Virtual STEM Careers Day

Objectives of the Event

1. To inform career planning among students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by connecting them to industry experts and senior students from higher institutions of learning.
2. To help students use entrepreneurship to create jobs within specific STEM subjects.
3. To use the platform to invite students, schools, parents and local organizations to participate in the CODE Program and other ASEI initiatives.
4. To network and share industry experience through mentors and a possible virtual trip to industry.

Activities of the day

• Career guidance from Industry representatives
• Lessons from Higher Education students
• Project exhibitions and experience sharing from CODE program students
• Career visits/trip if possible.
• Q&A session between participants and industry representatives.

Agenda

Whole session: 1 hour (12:00 – 1:00 PM)

1. 12:00 – 12:05: Logging into the event  
2. 12:05 – 12:10: Introductory speech
3. 12:10 – 12:25: Keynote speech
4. 12:25 – 12:45: Breakout rooms
5. 12:45 – 12:50: ASEI Programs and Projects
6. 12:50 – 12:55: Experience sharing
7. 12:55 – 1:00: Closure

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