Cairo, Egypt image via Pixabay user Shadyshaker

Fresno State will assist in creating a teacher education program focused on STEM education in Egypt.

Deans and faculty from Fresno State’s Kremen School of Education and Human Development, the College of Science and Mathematics and the Lyles College of Engineering will collaborate with the Ministry of Egypt to train teachers on the strategies involved in student-centered research and active learning teaching. The design and implementation of this program comes as part of a $24.2 million award from the United States Agency for International Development.

The goal of the STEM Teacher Education and School Strengthening Activity (STESSA) project is to produce a STEM workforce and future STEM leaders who can further the public good in Egypt. The 21st Century Partnership for STEM Education (21 PSTEM), a nonprofit near Philadelphia, is leading the project with help from several U.S. universities.

“Fresno State is taking the lead in this critical initiative to improve science education to meet pressing global challenges,” said Robert Harper, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Fresno State is the primary university partner because of its excellence in teacher education and in water research and issues also of serious concern in Egypt.”

The project-based curriculum under development will have students conduct scientific experiments in the classroom to solve the country’s “Grand Challenges” such as disease prevention, water use and traffic congestion Students will also participate in a semester-long capstone project. Fresno State further plans to work to include and support the success of female students.

Since January, Fresno State professors Fred Nelson, Emily Walter, Lina Obeid and Rohit Mehta have traveled to Egypt to meet with faculty members and high school students. They plan to coordinate and lead professional development workshops in Egypt this summer. The Kremen School will also host a group of Egyptian teachers this month, and will have the opportunity to meet with the teacher preparation Faculty at Fresno State.