© Stiftung Kinder forschen / Members of the International Dialogue at their annual peer meeting
About IDoS – International Dialogue on STEM Education
The "International Dialogue on STEM Education" (IDoS) is a joint initiative of Siemens Stiftung and Stiftung Kinder forschen (Little Scientists Foundation). Together, we regularly engage in an international peer dialogue with other leading organisations whose focus of work is on early STEM Education (for Sustainable Development).
What motivates us: A growing need for quality early education
We believe that education, especially early STEM Education for Sustainable Development, is of particular importance to prepare children to cope well in a rapidly changing environment.
The world is facing major challenges: We are in the middle of a climate crisis. The population is growing, as is the gap between rich and poor. Artificial intelligence is gaining ground; digitalisation is already shaping the way our children are growing up today. Lastly, the Covid-19-Pandemic forced us to reshape life as we knew it completely.
Children must learn from early on to deal with these challenges and to find sustainable solutions to existing or future problems. STEM Education for Sustainable Development strengthens them in their development of these future skills.
Read more on early STEM Education for Sustainable Development in our position paper “STEM4SD Education”
© Stiftung Kinder forschen / Developing a Vision for Early Education
© Veikko Somerpuro/ Stiftung Kinder forschen
Our aim: Professionalising early STEM Education through a regular peer dialogue
While we consider ourselves prominent actors in the field of continuous professional development and education policy, we believe that global challenges as outlined above and the demands for a quality education arising thereof can best be tackled by working together internationally.
Therefore, Stiftung Kinder forschen and Siemens Stiftung are seeking a systematic and regular exchange at international level, from which people and organisations involved in the development of their countries' education field can benefit.
Parties concerned can learn from and with the best players in the field of early STEM Education (the so-called "IDoS peers") worldwide and thus implement their work at home more efficiently, more effectively, and in a more knowledge-based way.
Building an "ecosystem for educational innovation"
As "field developer" organisations, Stiftung Kinder forschen and Siemens Stiftung are guided by global educational and sustainability goals, such as the OECD Learning Compass 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, to strengthen children's 21st century competencies. Together, we maintain a joint dialogue with leading educational players in the field of early STEM Education, and discuss selected topics that are relevant to state-of-the-art elementary and primary STEM Education (for Sustainable Development), and that are currently of interest to the peer institutions.
Along with each of the participating organisations' own national networks, the IDoS network aims to promote an "ecosystem for educational innovation". Therein, STEM Education (for Sustainable Development) worldwide can develop, professionalise, and thrive.
Background: How IDoS first came about
Over many years since its formation, the Stiftung Kinder forschen (Little Scientists Foundation) has gradually strengthened its international ties. In 2017, together with Siemens Stiftung, the Foundation initiated a global conference which brought together over 130 experts from around the world to discuss and exchange their expertise on STEM Education. The International Dialogue on STEM Education (IDoS) was born and has since sharpened its focus.
After a second and highly successful international conference was held in 2019 in Berlin, Siemens Stiftung and Stiftung Kinder forschen – along with selected partner networks – initiated a global peer dialogue of leading educational players in the field of STEM Education. This initiative which is now the IDoS network further promotes high-quality early STEM Education for Sustainable Development and increases worldwide awareness for this high-potential education sector.
It would not be possible to maintain the International Dialogue without the partners who support IDoS financially and non-materially.
© René Arnold / Stiftung Kinder forschen / IDoS conference in 2019
