The Hon. MOSTI Minister, Dato' Seri Panglima Madius Tangau, Sir John Holman, and Dato' Ir. (Dr.) Lee Yee Cheong at York National STEM Centre

Minister of Science Technology and Innovation Malaysia (MOSTI), YB Dato’ Seri Panglima Madius Tangau visited the UK National STEM Centre, York on 18 May 2016. He was accompanied by ISTIC Governing Board Chairman, Dato Ir. Lee Yee Cheong. They were received by Sir John Holman, founding Director of the York STEM Centre. Sir John outlined the history of the Centre since 2004, whilst senior officers Becca Knowles and Gill Gunnill elaborated on the development of the Centre and its extensive regional branch centres in the UK, its governance structure and its relations with the Ministry of Education, Charity Foundations Wellcome Trust and Gatsby Foundation and many UK giant corporations. 

The Centre was founded on the conviction that for the development of STEM talent for the 21st Century knowledge based global economy in the UK, lifelong professional development of science and mathematics teachers and learning by doing, including lab practice in school for students, are essential. In essence, the UK National STEM Centre has provided teachers, technicians and other educators with high impact, subject-specific professional development and support in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). https://www.stem.org.uk/

MOSTI Minister was most impressed with the UK National STEM Learning Centre. He informed Sir John that such a centre and its network if established in Malaysia would help to arrest the alarming decline in interest in STEM subjects in Malaysian schools. Sir John offered to help Malaysia in whatever ways Malaysia desires. 

The Hon. MOSTI Minister, Dato' Seri Panglima Madius Tangau, witnessing lab class in York STEM Learning Centre 

The Hon. MOSTI Minister, discussing with course teachers over lunch in York STEM Learning Centre

The Hon. MOSTI Minister presenting ISTIC Book to Sir John