Conference promoting education in STEM internationally

A Teesside University academic joined an international line-up for a virtual conference promoting education in STEM subjects across the world.

Professor Michael Short, from the University’s School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, was among speakers taking part in the UK ASIA SeedingSTEM Summit 2020.

The summit is hosted annually at Cambridge University, but this year was held online due to current restrictions surrounding Covid-19.

Among this year’s speakers were Bollywood actor and motivational speaker Mohammad Ali Shah, along with Anand Kumar, who founded the Super 30 educational programme in India.

Professor Short, of the University’s Centre for Sustainable Engineering, said: 'It was a great honour to be invited to speak at this prestigious event hosted at Cambridge University, alongside notable figures such as Major Shah and Anand Kumar.

'The recent speed and depth of technological change has brought many positives into the world, but for many it has also brought great uncertainty. A clear direction moving forward is needed.

'The technological revolution is changing society in many ways, and it is becoming increasingly important for people to be comfortable with concepts such as critical thinking and cognitive flexibility in order to succeed and thrive in the digital world.

'STEM education is playing an increasingly important role - alongside other human and social factors – in ensuring that we can progress towards a society which is both technologically advanced, yet inclusive and sustainable for all.

'At Teesside University, we are actively supporting such measures with our Future Faced Learning initiative, and also in a number of other key areas - including the provision of free courses to provide digital upskilling within the local region.'

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