Department of Education reaches consensus with Kean University on STEM education

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Education Department of Zhejiang Province and Kean University was successfully signed on June 6^th 2018. According to the agreement, the two sides will carry out cooperation projects such as STEM curriculum development, teacher training program, sister universities and academic symposiums. Mr. Guo Huajun, Director of the Education Department of Zhejiang Province, signed the agreement with the President of Kean University, Dr. Dawood Farahi. Mr. Wang Beijiao, Party Secretary, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wenzhou-Kean University, attended and witnessed the whole ceremony.

Mr. Guo Huazhen expressed his appreciation to the achievement that Wenzhou-Kean University gained and expressed his gratitude to Dr. Dawood Farahi and all the support from Kean University. He mentioned that the Education Department of Zhejiang Province will continue to support Wenzhou-Kean University and strive to build WKU as a model for Sino-US cooperation in running universities. Dr. Dawood Farahi firstly reviewed the support from China’s leaders and relevant departments since the establishment of Wenzhou-Kean University, and then expressed deep gratitude. In the future, the advantages of Kean University will be fully used to build up a better and stronger Wenzhou-Kean University, mentioned by Dr. Dawood Farahi as well.

STEM is an abbreviation of the English initials of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. STEM education emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, and focuses on the use and practice of knowledge. The purpose of STEM education is to apply knowledge from multiple disciplines to guide students to discover problems, solve problems, and cultivate the ability of active learning.

According to the Memorandum, Kean University will offer academic support for Zhejiang Province on STEM education, and assist in developing STEM courses and research programs, especially the research on resources and evaluation skills of the course Technology and Engineering in middle schools and high schools. Besides, the two sides are going to collaboratively hold the STEM forum in Zhejiang Province with the topic related to innovation and education. In order to strengthen the communication with Kean University, the Education Department of Zhejiang Province will send 20 teachers and middle/high school presidents to Kean University annually for the two-week STEM education study.

The attendees include representatives of the Board of Directors of Kean University, Dr. Yang Eric Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs of Wenzhou-Kean University, Dr. Xu Shuli Vice Chancellor of Wenzhou-Kean University.