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UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany visited the new premises of IISTEM and addressed the opening symposium on STEM Education along with leading scientists. 
STEM education equips young people with the tools to understand the world and the confidence to shape it. It underpins sustainable development and is essential to addressing the major challenges of our time — from climate change and biodiversity loss to health, energy, food systems, and digital transformation.
The Governing Board, comprised of twelve members, elected Mr Ke Gong as the Chair, Ms Peggy Oti-Boateng and Mr Waqas Ahmed as Vice Chairs, in accordance with the statutes of the Institute. 
The Board reviewed and adopted the work plan and budget for 2026, paving the way for the launch of the Institute’s activities. Members also examined the draft Medium-Term Strategy (2026-2029) and provided guidance for its further development.  
The mission of IISTEM is to promote inclusive, equitable, relevant, and quality STEM education for all, from early childhood to adulthood. To achieve this, the Institute will focus on three strategic objectives: 
To support the implementation of these objectives, five core institutional functions are planned: standard setting, capacity development, cooperation convening, research and innovation, and digital and AI transformation. 
“We are launching this Institute at a time of profound transitions. STEM education is no longer only about skills for employment. It is about preparing learners to navigate uncertainty, to engage ethically with science and technology, and to contribute to sustainable and peaceful societies. It requires interdisciplinary thinking and strong governance,” said Qun Chen, UNESCO Assistant-Director General for Education at the opening session of the Board.
Mr Ke Gong (China as the Host country, Chair), Ms Peggy Oti Boateng (Ghana, Vice Chair), Mr Waqas Ahmed (Pakistan, Vice Chair), Ms Dong Xie (Ex-officio of the host city), Ms Alicia Kowaltowski (Brazil), Ms Lorena Medina Morales (Chile), Ms Annette Scheunpflug (Germany), Ms Faith Njoki Karanja (Kenya), Mr Adam Almulla (Kuwait), Ms Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni (Morocco), Mr Sergey Garbuk (Russian Federation), and Mr Caucher Bikar (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).
This article is related to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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