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At the conference Education for Digital Society organized within the framework of the project of the same name, worth 10 million dinars, realized by the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation and the NCR Foundation in cooperation with the Center for the Promotion of Science, a new competition for the procurement of equipment for secondary schools in Serbia worth 1.5 million dinars was presented. The encouraging results of the previous cycle of the project showed the importance of supporting STEM education, started a discussion on examples of good practice and introduced to the discussion: education for the digital society in Serbia.
The project Education for Digital Society is a continuation of the project Supporting STEM Education in Secondary Schools implemented by the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation and NCR Foundation, with the support of the Center for the Promotion of Science. Besides procuring equipment for high schools, improving teachers' competences, and increasing students' knowledge and interest in STEM disciplines, the new project will also enable 120 students from Belgrade who want to take the first step towards the IT world to complete a free retraining course within the non-profit IT Bootcamp school.
By providing modern school equipment, improving the skills of teachers, informing, motivating and encouraging students to engage in STEM disciplines, as well as free retraining, the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation and the NCR Foundation will, during the announced project, help students acquire the skills necessary for the professions of the future and use that knowledge functionally during further education and professional development.
The project began with the publication of a competition for the selection of five schools that will receive new school equipment. The maximum amount that the school can compete for is RSD 300,000, and the funds can be used for the procurement of assets for the realization of modern teaching and extracurricular activities in STEM areas. The competition for schools started today and will run until 4pm on March 25th, and schools can apply via the link divac.com/stem where they can get additional information and download the necessary application form.
"NCR and our NCR Foundation are committed to working with the local community to create opportunities to improve education together. Serbia is globally famous for its talented young people whose innovative spirit and expertise are among the principal factors contributing to the development of a growing number of technology companies in our country. In order to maintain this position in a dynamic technological environment, it is necessary to develop a suitable environment for continuous talent training in Serbia. We are proud that our long-term partnerships, such as this with the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation, enable young people to gain and develop the skills that are necessary in today's digital world", said Stefan Lazarevic, CEO of NCR Serbia.
One of the strategic goals of the Divac Foundation is to provide prerequisites for a quality upbringing and education of children. STEM education includes the study of natural sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics in an interdisciplinary way that has its measurable and clear application. Ana Kosel, the Director of the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation, pointed out that the Foundation has been working with partners for 15 years to provide conditions for quality education. So far, over 100 kindergartens and schools have been renovated, and about 70,000 children have received better conditions for an early childhood and education.
"This project is a continuation of many years of successful cooperation with the NCR Foundation and we are glad that today we have the opportunity to present a new project and open another cycle of competitions for the procurement of equipment necessary for providing better STEM education in secondary schools in Serbia. Within the previous cycle of the competition, the donation of 3.5 million dinars enabled over 7,000 students in Serbia to have access to education improved, and nine schools received funds for the procurement of equipment for the realization of modern teaching and extracurricular activities in the STEM area. The goal of our partnership is for as many pupils and students as possible to receive better education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and thus successfully prepare for the the labor market", said Ana Kosel.