China's first UNESCO Category 1 Center established in Shanghai

The UNESCO International Institute for STEM Education was officially inaugurated in Shanghai on Sunday, marking the first establishment of a UNESCO Category 1 Center in China.

In November 2023, the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference unanimously adopted a resolution to establish the International Institute for STEM Education in Shanghai. It is the 10th Category 1 Center globally and the first outside Europe and North America.

The institute's main functions include promoting education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics across all stages from early childhood to adulthood, with a focus on providing inclusive, equitable, relevant and high-quality STEM education for all.

Huai Jinpeng, minister of education, expressed warm congratulations on the official establishment of the institute.

He noted that the institute is the first Category 1 Center jointly established by China and UNESCO. Its establishment represents a major historical milestone in China-UNESCO cooperation and is the result of joint efforts between China and UNESCO member states.

It also stands as significant testimony to Sino-UNESCO collaboration in promoting open science, open education, and cultural exchanges, he said.

China remains committed to fulfilling its promises to the international community, working with countries around the world to foster innovation and support the institute not only as a source of advanced STEM education concepts and a testing ground for educational ideas, but also as an international platform for promoting educational transformation, technological innovation, and service to sustainable development, making substantive contributions to global sustainable development and the building of a shared future for humanity, he said.

Gong Zheng, mayor of Shanghai, said the city will take the establishment of the institute as an opportunity to strengthen the cultivation of sci-tech innovation talent, enhance public scientific literacy, advance high-level opening-up in education, and accelerate efforts to build Shanghai into a highland for international STEM education development.

These efforts will help promote a virtuous cycle among education, science and technology, and talent development, providing strong support for enhancing the city's core competitiveness, he said.

Shanghai will fully support the development of the institute and contribute actively to global educational reform and innovation and the realization of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, he added.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said she was honored to witness this historic moment in Shanghai.

She noted that Shanghai, with its concentration of knowledge, scientific innovation and historical heritage, provides a first-class venue for the institute and expressed deep gratitude for the support from all parties.

Azoulay emphasized that cooperation between China and UNESCO has a long history, and the establishment of a Category 1 Center in Shanghai carries a grand vision and extraordinary significance. The institute will join UNESCO's global network of Category 1 Centers, promote the development of STEM sciences, advance global educational equity, and help countries around the world address shared challenges.