How Covid-19 reinvigorated the need for stem education – MENAFN.COM

How Covid-19 reinvigorated the need for stem education – MENAFN.COM

Doha: The COVID-19 pandemic has fast-tracked a digital revolution across the world, specifically in the Arab region – connecting people and providing them with access to a wealth of data, information, and media. For this reason, society has had to embrace STEM education for sustainable development within the MENA region, according to Professor Fouad Mrad, the longest-serving jury member on Qatar Foundation's (QF) edutainment TV show, Stars of Science. "This stimulated access to knowledge leaves governments and parents no choice but to help facilitate access to STEM fields among the next generation, and introduce related policies to maximize the benefits to society," he said. Prof Mrad, a longtime advocate for STEM education and Frontier Technologies Manager at the United Nations, highlights how the show has brought significant value to the Arab world, both through the projects it showcases and its efforts to foster a culture of entrepreneurship. "STEM-based innovation offers the highest added value from novel ideas, especially with the local markets' craving solutions. Stars of Science introduced and demonstrated a 'can do' culture to Arab youth, showing them that they can cultivate their ideas in this region," he explained. Prof. Mrad added that – given the struggles related to