WSU FACULTY OF EDUCATION & USA RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE TO HOST STEAM SUMMIT

The Faculty of Education, in partnership with the African Research Collaborative (ARC) and the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), is preparing to host the ARC–SACNASP SheSTEAM Summit on 14 February 2026.

The summit aims to empower young girls from underrepresented and economically marginalised communities by increasing access to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) through hands-on learning, mentorship, and exposure to local and international expertise.

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof Bongani Bantwini, said the ARC–SACNASP SheSTEAM Summit will expose Grade 8 and 9 girl learners to interactive science demonstrations, helping to influence their future career choices as they prepare to select subjects in Grade 10.

“The emphasis is on making science and mathematics visible, relatable, and achievable. We want learners to see that these subjects are not abstract or inaccessible, but powerful tools for solving real-world problems and shaping their communities,” said Bantwini.

He added that research and national education data continue to show that girls remain underrepresented in Mathematics and Physical Sciences at senior secondary and tertiary levels. “The ARC–SACNASP SheSTEAM Summit addresses this gap by intervening early, at a critical stage where exposure, encouragement, and positive role models can have a lasting impact,” he said.

Community-based science initiatives such as the ARC–SACNASP SheSTEAM Summit have also been shown to improve learner engagement and academic confidence, particularly in under-resourced schools such as those in the Eastern Cape.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), community-based STEM outreach programmes play a critical role in improving learner engagement, confidence, and participation in science subjects.

President and Director of International Research at ARC, Dr Speight Vaughn, said it was essential for the summit to be hosted by an institution that understands the responsibility of universities to serve surrounding communities, particularly rural and township youth.

“This partnership reflects our belief that global excellence must grow from local empowerment, and that African girls deserve world-class opportunities in spaces that honour their realities, histories, and futures,” said Vaughn.

She added that ARC brings a global, research-driven, and culturally grounded approach to STEAM education, shaped by its work across South Africa, Ghana, the United States, and the African Diaspora. “Our programmes intentionally bridge Indigenous knowledge systems, community wisdom, science, and innovation,” she said.

Drawing from her own research in the Northern Cape, Vaughn noted that Indigenous ecological knowledge, agricultural practices, and environmental observations represent some of the earliest and most sophisticated forms of science and innovation.

“SheSTEAM is built on the conviction that STEAM must honour these foundations, not replace them with abstract concepts. Learners will encounter STEAM not as abstract theory, but as a living practice connected to land, culture, technology, and community problem-solving,” she said.

During the summit, learners will be exposed to activities including hackathons, coding and robotics, and a range of scientific exhibitions.

By Ongezwa Sigodi