Scheme Details

New website for The U-STEMist Scheme is now in use. For the latest information about the scheme, please visit http://ustemist.info.

Objectives

1. To develop STEM literacy in both pre-service STEM teachers and STEM majors (e.g., engineering, ICT, mathematics, pure and applied sciences);
2. To develop pre-service teachers’ (including BEd and PGDE students) competence in promoting STEM education in primary and secondary schools; 
3. To develop the ability of STEM majors to put theory into practice and integrate their STEM knowledge and skills in serving the education and community service sectors;
4. To equip teacher educators with the necessary experience for developing integrative STEM professional development strategies that could be applied to training of STEM teachers in the future; and
5. To develop resources for professional development of both primary and secondary teachers on STEM education.

Missions

• To nurture STEM professionals and STEM literates.
• To infuse STEM education into the school curriculum.
• To develop STEM major's and pre-service/in-service teachers' competence in STEM and STEM education.

Introduction of the Scheme

With the increasing demand for Hong Kong society to nurture STEM professionals and STEM literate to sustain economic development and solve societal and environmental problems in the 21st century, the infusion of STEM education into the existing school curriculum is imminent to address this demand in the medium and long-term. This entails complementary efforts by university faculties to develop STEM majors’ and pre-service/in-service teachers’ competence in STEM and STEM education.

This Scheme engages STEM majors (e.g. engineering, science and computer majors) and pre-service/in-service STEM subject teachers in STEM activities, facilitate exchange of expertise, team building and synergy generation among STEM majors from different faculties and universities to further enhance their STEM competence.

The Scheme consists of three stages:

Stage 1 (Oct 2018 - Mar 2019)
This stage is to develop participants’ competence in STEM and STEM education through site visits, lectures and/or workshops. Participants will visit sites of interest to observe STEM in action. These sites include water treatment works, aviation facilities, environmental protection establishments, The Science and Technology Park, and social services centres. Participants will also attend lectures and workshops to extend their understanding of the scientific, engineering, technology and mathematics aspects of STEM and STEM education beyond their own majors. These lectures/workshops will focus on creative innovation and the application of knowledge in the STEM design-and-make process to prepare participants for the second stage.

Stage 2 (Oct 2018 - Jun 2019)*
Participants will join fellow participants from other majors and universities to form inter-university STEM project teams, each comprising about 6 members. Each team is expected to identify specific needs of a government department, a community organization or an educational establishment through visits and discussion, and undertake a STEM activity (involving design and make) to meet those needs. Upon completion of this stage, the STEM project teams will disseminate their project outcomes to other students and practitioners in STEM or STEM education through a seminar cum exhibition.
(*Each STEM project team will receive the necessary funding for the purchase of equipment and materials required by their project.)

Requirements for completion of the Scheme
To satisfactorily complete the Scheme, participants are required to:-

• attend the Induction Day Camp and Briefing session (27th October 2018)
• attend at least 2 activities in Stage 1
• attend Proposal Presentation session (19th January 2019)
• conduct a STEM project with peers from the same and different universities
• present the project in Project Exhibition cum Prize Presentation (8th June 2019)

Recognition for participants who complete the project satisfactorily
On satisfactory completion of the scheme, participants will receive:

• A certificate of satisfactory completion issued by the four universities
• Tokens of appreciation   
• Awards (for outstanding performing teams) issued by the four universities