[Application] Global STEAM & Leadership Challenges

STEAM education prepares students to address global challenges and build a better future. By nurturing critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and an innovative mindset, it equips learners with the mindsets and tools needed to address pressing issues such as poverty, climate change, health crises, and unequal access to clean water and sanitation. Through STEAM, students gain the knowledge to understand these challenges and develop the skills to create and implement transformative solutions that drive meaningful, sustainable change.

The Global STEAM & Leadership Challenges is a transformative learning experience designed to bring educators and communities together to explore practical ways and strategies for leveraging STEAM education to equip students with the mindsets and skills needed to address challenges on both local and global scales. This learning experience will:

Foster peer learning and collaboration, focusing on how STEAM education can foster student leadership.
Develop practical resources and insights that teachers and communities can leverage to design STEAM activities that address community and global challenges.
Elevate local knowledge, showcasing diverse perspectives and narratives and contributing to the global discussion.
Build connections among like-minded educators to inspire collaboration and collective impact.
Successful applicants will collaborate with students to form project teams that partner with the local community to identify, design, and implement solutions.

Audience

STEM teachers, teacher coaches, and education professionals who train and support STEM educators engaged in STEAM education are encouraged to apply.

Selection process

Ten (10) projects will be selected based on the following selection criteria

To be considered, proposals must include the following:

Project overview: Provide context, key objectives, and a proposed timeline.
Community Needs and Solutions: Explain the local challenges the project addresses and the proposed solutions.
STEAM Learning and Leadership Outcomes: Specify the anticipated STEAM learning outcomes and the student leadership skills the project aims to develop.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Describe how collaboration among key stakeholders supports the project’s implementation and expected outcomes.

Structure & Timeline

< December 20 > Applications start
< January 15 > Info Session
Provide an overview of the learning experience and address potential applicants' questions.
< January 29 > Application deadline
< February 5> Selected projects announced
< February 12 > Kick-off session
Foster relationships among cohort participants, share inspiring examples from previous cohorts and support participants in refining their approach and implementation strategies.
< February/ March > Project implementation
Participants implement their projects, supported by supported by virtual check-ins, peer learning, and dediated mentors.
< March 5 > What we are learning from implementing the challenge
Participants convene to share initial learnings and discuss the challenges they have encountered.
< April 2 > Deadline to submit the project and deliverables
Project Summary
Your impact story
< April 9 > Project presentations