The centre will be a unique place for young people interested in technological innovations, and will aid in the professional development of teachers

Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, 11 June 2021 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine has opened a brand new STEAM education centre in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast.

The centre will soon open its doors to young people who are interested in science and ready to experiment using an out-of-the-box approach to developing effective innovative solutions. In addition, the centre aims to create an innovative environment for the professional development of teachers, who will actively apply the principles of STEAM education in their work and beyond.

STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) is a multidisciplinary approach to learning that combines science, innovative technologies and creativity. It focuses on solving concrete problems whilst stimulating out-of-the-box and critical thinking, research skills and effective teamwork.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Manal Fouani said that neither the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has gone on for years now, nor the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, should ever get in the way of people achieving their potential in advancing education, science and innovation in the region.

“We at UNDP are convinced that the Donetsk Regional STEM Centre will be a powerful driver of modern science in eastern Ukraine, where young scientists and educators will foster innovative ideas, using an out-of-the-box approach to solving local and regional problems in the east and all across the country,” Fouani said. “We are inspired by the perseverance and dedication of the people of eastern Ukraine, who strive to learn and excel despite the challenges. Therefore we, together with our national and international partners, will continue to make every effort to expand educational opportunities to as many people as possible, leaving no one behind.”

The STEAM education centre is equipped with modern equipment for working on robotics and 3D modelling, and conducting laboratory work in biology, geography, physics and chemistry.

Deputy Minister of Education and Science for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitalization Artur Seletskyi noted that the project-focused approach in STEAM education creates opportunities for the effective and thorough formation and development of digital competencies, which are the key to realizing the full potential of Ukraine’s children. Therefore, the development of STEAM education is a priority for the Ministry of Education and Science, as stated in the respective strategic government documents, he said.

Director of the Department of Education and Science of the Donetsk Oblast State Administration Tetiana Sidasheva stressed that STEAM education represents an opportunity for Donetsk Oblast to develop intellectual engineering for both students and adults, while Deputy Head of the Donetsk Oblast State Administration and Deputy Head of the Oblast Military-Civil Administration Yuliia Kostiunina added that the regional STEAM centre is a truly innovative educational environment for children and the teaching community.

The centre was opened under the UN Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme in partnership with the Donetsk Oblast Institute of Postgraduate Education, the Department of Education of the Oblast State Administration, the “Centre for Future Development” and “Foundation for Educational Initiatives” NGOs, with financial support from the governments of Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland. The total cost of the project was over UAH 1,750,000 (US$62,000).

Background

The United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (UN RPP) is being implemented by four United Nations agencies: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

Twelve international partners support the Programme: the European Union (EU), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, and the governments of Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden & Switzerland.

Media enquiries

Maksym Kytsiuk, Communications Specialist, UN Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme, maksym.kytsiuk@undp.org, +380 63 576 1839