Promoting STEM through entertainment and education
Recent studies by international education authorities, who continuously monitor how academic formation is impacting the economy, show that the more a country invests in science education, the more economic prosperity is expected.
It is estimated that by 2025, at lease a fourth (25%) of all new jobs created will be based on STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
As science is considered by most students as ‘tougher’ than other subjects at school, statistics show that when compared to the rest of the EU, Malta is still lacking in this area.
While tertiary education attainment has increased drastically over the past years, graduates in STEM subjects did not keep up the same pace.
One of the measures taken in recent years by the Maltese authorities, particularly through the investment of millions of EU funds, was to make STEM subjects more popular, acceptable, and more pleasant to study.
Millions of EU funds were invested in this area through a spectacular project which literally transformed a place associated with negativity (a hospital) into a building full of life, fun and energy.
With an investment of more than €26 million, mostly EU Cohesion funds, Villa Bighi in Kalkara - for decades used as a hospital of the British navy - was turned into a unique, state-of-the-art National Interactive Science Centre.
Dull hospital wards were transformed into large open spaces, filled with some 200 interactive exhibits providing a hands-on educational experience on how science works in real life.
The majestic building, with stunning views of Malta’s Grand Harbour, was stripped and transformed into an aesthetic iconic and functional edifice, which also includes a suspended globe on its roof, serving as a planetarium.
Nowadays, the learning centre, better known as Esplora, hosts hundreds of students on a daily basis, who visit together with their teachers to explore, discuss and experience what they have learnt during their science lessons in a tangible manner. Activity rooms and theatres hosting an array of scientific learning activities and an outdoor play area added to the attractiveness of this centre to all those who needed just a small ‘push’ to start considering a scientific career from a young age.
The Centre also provided an opportunity for more STEM jobs in Malta.
Esplora now provides the livelihood to a good number of young graduates, recruited specifically to present shows, guide students, and teach visitors specific scientific subjects.
Although a shift towards STEM is a slow process, EU funds in this area surely provided more opportunities to students who had the ability but could not view how their scientific minds could turn out to be their future career. Big plans always start with the first few steps.
This article is part of the OurEU.mt campaign, which is being managed by CiConsulta's ComuniqEU, with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of CiConsulta and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.