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

The Faculty of Education, in partnership with the African Research Collaborative (ARC) in Georgia State University (GSU), is preparing to host a SheSTEAM summit on the 14^th of February 2026.

The purpose of the summit is to empower girls and young women from underrepresented and economically marginalised communities by increasing access to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics through hands-on learning, mentorship, and exposure to local and international expertise.

The Executive Dean of the faculty, Prof Bongani Bantwini, said the summit will expose Grade 8 and 9 girl learners to interactive science demonstrations, to help influence their future careers as they prepare to choose their 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, “Research and national education data show that girls remain underrepresented in Mathematics and Physical Sciences at senior secondary and tertiary levels, and the SheSTEAM Summit addresses this gap by intervening early, at a critical stage where exposure, encouragement, and positive role models can have a lasting impact.”

Meanwhile, community-based science programmes such as the SheSTEAM summit, have also been shown to boost learner engagement and academic confidence, particularly in under-resourced schools like the Eastern Cape.

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

The President and Director of International Research in the ARC, Dr Speight Vaughn, said it was essential that the summit 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 honor their realities, histories, and futures,” said Vaughn.

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

Through her own research in the Northen Cape, Vaughn experienced how 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 honor 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.”

On the summit, learners can expect to be exposed to activities like hackathons, coding and robotics, and a variety of scientific exhibitions.

By Ongezwa Sigodi