Successful STEAM Education events were hosted in 2023 and 2024
National STEAM Congress in Pretoria
The GMMDC at Mandela University 
has organized and co-hosted a successful Science Technology Engineering Art & Mathematics (STEAM) Education Congress in partnership with the Science Faculty of Academia University in Pretoria from 5 to 7 January 2023. The congress theme was The Advancement of Inter- and Transdisciplinary Pedagogies of Mathematics and Science Teaching in South Africa. Education research experts and STEAM education practitioners from across the country participated. GMMDC staff presented a paper on its MathArt project in schools and a workshop on innovative practice to teach Mathematics with mobile phones. Two international STEAM education experts also participated as plenary speakers and panelists. Dr Kristof Fenyvesi, a senior researcher at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research at the University of Jyväskylä, presented an overview of STEAM education initiatives in Europe. Prof Diego Lieban from Brazil presented on the creation of Maths and Science games for education using open-source technologies and 3D printing.
Inaugural Provincial STEAM Seminar in the Eastern Cape Province
The GMMDC also 
hosted its first provincial Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education seminar at Kingswood College, Makhanda, on 17 and 18 May 2024. Organized in partnership with the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA), the seminar aimed to tackle critical challenges in STEM education, such as skill deficits and limited access to digital resources, which hinder sustainable development and youth opportunities in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP).
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The event brought together over 140 Mathematics and Science educators from across the province, with more than 60 sponsored by the Eastern Cape Department of Education. It fostered collaboration between private and public schools, showcasing innovative teaching practices that connect STEM education to real-world problem-solving and careers in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Esteemed speakers included Dr. Kristof Fenyvesi from Finland’s University of Jyväskylä, alongside representatives from the Department of Basic Education.
The seminar featured diverse presentations, workshops, and demonstrations, equipping educators with practical tools to inspire students. Ms. Mariette Visser of ISASA praised the event's success, highlighting its role in addressing STEM education needs. GMMDC plans to establish this seminar as an annual platform to drive sustainable STEM skill development in ECP schools.
Upcoming Event: Provincial STEAM Education Seminar in Gauteng
The Govan Mbeki Mathematics 
Development Centre (GMMDC), based at Nelson Mandela University in the Eastern Cape, is hosting the second regional STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Education Seminar in collaboration with Market Place Academy, a Gauteng-based NPO and Future Nations Schools. This project is sponsored by Deloitte and the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). Following the success of the inaugural event in the Eastern Cape Province in 2024, this year’s seminar aims to advance innovative STEAM methodologies within classrooms across Gauteng and beyond. This two-day seminar aims to bring together more than 220 selected in-service STEM educators from over 40 public schools in Gauteng, providing a platform to learn, collaborate, and explore practical STEAM education approaches that foster trans-disciplinary critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and digital literacy. Several prominent Gauteng-based education stakeholder organizations from both the public and private sectors have also been invited to attend and actively participate in the event.
Seminar Info Link: