The 1st China STEM Education Development Conference, co-organized by the National Institute of Education Sciences and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), was held on the Qingshuihe Campus of UESTC in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on June 20-21, 2017. It aimed to promote STEM education innovation under the theme “New Strategy, New Curriculum Reform, and New Gaokao Exams”.
NIES President Tian Huisheng delivered a speech at the conference, while Zhu Hong, Vice President of UESTC; Zhang Yongjun, Director of the Information Section, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education; Xu Hui, Director of Talents Center, Ministry of Science and Technology; and Wang Su, Director of Research Center for STEM Education, NIES were present. More than 800 people attended the event, including leaders, principals and teacher representatives from the University of Science and Technology of China, East China Normal University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Zhongguancun No. 1 Primary School of Beijing, and Jianping Middle School of Shanghai.
During the conference, attendees focused on the strategic orientation of national education development, the overall direction of new curriculum reform and the latest trends in exams and assessments in primary and secondary schools. They carried out in-depth discussions and exchanges on areas such as STEM education theories and policies, STEM curriculum and core literacy, STEM education and Gaokao reform, STEM teacher development, and STEM education products and standards. The attendees benefited from modern and resourceful ways of presenting data, such as keynote reports given by experts, different forums bringing together directors and principals, STEM curriculum displays and STEM education industry development forums.
At the meeting, China STEM Education 2017, drafted by NIES, was released, and Innovation Action Plan for China’s STEM Education 2029 was launched. Guided by principles of synergy, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness and innovation, the Plan aims to promote the top-level design of STEM education policies, implement STEM talent training, build a platform for resource integration and teacher training, develop STEM curriculum standards and assessment systems, establish an integrated STEM innovation ecosystem, create a service economy-oriented strategic highland for education and talent, and integrate successful models into STEM education .
In the future, the Research Center for STEM Education of NIES will provide policy-making consulting services to the government through policy research reports and the publication of white papers on STEM education. The Center will promote coordination and cooperation between education researchers and practitioners; explore STEM education in implementation plans, teacher training and the development of curriculum standards and evaluation systems; and build interdisciplinary STEM curriculum groups which are beyond phases of studying. It will also seek and promote the successful practice model of STEM education, and help STEM education benefit more student groups.
