PARIS: Mawhiba, an endowment organization dedicated to nurturing talented Saudi students in the scientific field, has partnered with UNESCO to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education across Arab countries.
The agreement was signed on July 19 in Paris by Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Subail, Mawhiba’s Deputy Secretary-General for Business Development and Communication, and Lidia Arthur Brito, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, according to a news release from the Saudi Press Agency.
Mawhiba, short for the King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, was established in 1999 in honor of Saudi Arabia’s founding king. The partnership aims to enhance STEM education for students from 6th to 12th grade across Arab states, with a focus on refining their scientific knowledge, nurturing creativity, and fostering critical thinking.
Brito emphasized the importance of providing young people with the necessary knowledge and skills to tackle global challenges through STEM fields. The collaboration also seeks to exchange experiences globally, with the potential to expand efforts to Africa and other parts of the world to promote sustainable development goals.
Special attention will be given to empowering Arab girls and young women, ensuring they have equal opportunities to excel in STEM fields. Mawhiba has identified 97,000 gifted students out of more than 300,000 tested in over 100 cities and villages across Saudi Arabia. The organization sponsors more than 54,000 students and has gained global recognition for its participation in international science competitions, with Saudi students winning over 397 medals and prizes.
Mawhiba Secretary-General Amal bint Abdullah Al-Hazzaa highlighted the shared commitment to empowering young Arab minds and advancing sustainable development through education and innovation. She stressed the significance of this collaboration within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030.
A central component of the initiative is the MAWHIBA-UNESCO Online STEM Oasis, a global platform for local, national, and regional science and engineering fairs. The partnership will also focus on training Arab science teachers to lead research and guide students in scientific projects, thereby enhancing the overall quality of STEM education.
“Mawhiba is committed to expanding the use of the UNESCO Open Science Portal and the UNESCO Science-2-Innovation Network to build the capacity of young scientists and women in STEM education globally,” the news release stated. Over the past three years, Mawhiba has supported 839 students from Arab states through enriching STEM programs, setting a precedent for regional cooperation and development in STEM education.
By joining forces with UNESCO, Mawhiba aims to amplify its ability to address global challenges such as climate change, health crises, and technological disruptions, contributing to global progress and sustainable development.
