QUT has welcomed 26 teachers from Papua New Guinea for a three-month intensive STEM education course funded through Australia Awards PNG by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Certificate in STEM Education participants Margaret Pogo Toringi (Central Province) and Gideon Aku (East New Britain)
The experienced teachers – half of whom are women – all have university degrees and come from all over PNG. They will undertake the Graduate Certificate in STEM Education which will be delivered over 12 weeks in two six-week blocks by QUT Faculty of Education lecturers.
Course leader Professor Dann Mallett said the course focused on recent developments in teaching STEM subject in schools and the use of digital technologies as tools for learning.
“All participants are high school STEM teachers and this course is designed to demonstrate the technical and communication skills to design, evaluate and implement development that will enhance their students’ learning,” Professor Mallet said.
“Each participant has submitted a STEM project they will work on and present at the end of the course.
“Projects include water treatment, converting school waste into valuable resources and ‘STEM today, entrepreneurs tomorrow’”.
QUT international projects development manager David Kozar said the Australia Awards Scholarships aimed to develop capacity and leadership skills so that recipients could contribute to development in PNG.
“The scholarships strengthen the partnership between the Australian Government and the PNG Government and further develop the skills of PNG people to make vital contributions to their country’s economic and social development.”
The course will also include several site visits to Queensland Education schools.
Australia Awards Short Course Awards offer targeted programs tailored to develop knowledge and skills, address priority human resource development needs and build partnerships and linkages between PNG and Australian organisations, in support of PNG’s development and the PNG-Australia Partnership.
QUT Media contact:
Niki Widdowson, 07 3138 2999 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au.
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au.
