Advancing　Technology　and　Engineering　Education　in　Primary　and　Secondary　Schools：　Nanshan，　Shenzhen　Issues　“Five　Major　Initiatives”　to　the　World

On　November　19，　the　two－day　International　Exchange　Activities　of　the　UNESCO　on　Technology　and　Engineering　Education　for　Children　and　Youth　concluded　successfully　in　Nanshan，　Shenzhen.

Technology　education　is　a　bridge　to　the　intelligent　world，　while　engineering　practice　shapes　a　brilliant　future.　On　November　19，　the　two－day　International　Exchange　Activities　of　the　UNESCO　on　Technology　and　Engineering　Education　for　Children　and　Youth　concluded　successfully　in　Nanshan，　Shenzhen.　At　the　closing　ceremony，　Nanshan　District　launched　the　“Nanshan　Initiative”　to　the　world，　a　global　call　to　advance　K12　education　in　technology　and　engineering.

Nanshan　District　is　a　hub　for　industry　giants　such　as　Tencent，　ZTE，　and　SenseTime，　as　well　as　industry　unicorns　such　as　UBTech　and　Orbbec，　along　with　numerous　emerging　enterprises　such　as　Elevoc　and　RabbitPre　AI.　The　district　is　now　taking　full　advantage　of　three　national－level　strategic　science　and　technology　platforms，　i.e.，　Pengcheng　Laboratory，　X－Lake　Sciensity，　and　Shenzhen　High－tech　Industrial　Park　to　build　a　global　hub　for　knowledge　innovation　and　technological　advancement.　Nanshan　boasts　over　5，000　national　high－tech　enterprises，　233　“Little　Giant”　specialized　and　sophisticated　enterprises，　and　31　national－level　manufacturing　champions　in　individual　fields.　At　present，　the　district　is　accelerating　its　comprehensive　internationalization，　with　a　focus　on　boosting　international　cultural　exchange　and　fostering　innovation　in　education　and　science　talent.

As　a　leading　economic　and　technological　innovation　hub　in　China，　Nanshan　District　is　launching　a　global　initiative　to　promote　the　sharing　of　high－quality　resources　for　technological　innovation.　By　taking　full　advantage　of　its　strengths　in　science　and　technology，　Nanshan　aims　to　build　an　open　and　shared　global　platform　to　advance　the　exchange　of　resources　and　best　practices　in　children’s　and　youth’s　technology　and　engineering　education.　The　initiative　emphasizes　strengthening　international　exchange　in　basic　education，　further　enhancing　the　openness，　cooperation　and　exchange　in　high－level　basic　education，　and　establishing　a　comprehensive　system　for　research，　teaching，　training，　exchange，　and　integration　between　industry　and　education　in　the　field　of　technology　and　engineering　education　for　children　and　youth.　This　effort　seeks　to　support　global　educational　reform　and　contribute　to　the　achievement　of　UNESCO’s　goals.　In　addition，　it　advocates　for　the　collaboration　between　technology　enterprises　and　schools　to　jointly　develop　technology　and　engineering　education　for　children　and　youth，　foster　students’　technological　awareness　and　engineering　concepts，　and　enhance　their　innovative　spirit　and　practical　abilities，　thereby　providing　strong　foundation　for　building　foundational　scientific　and　technological　capabilities.

As　an　education　hub，　Nanshan　not　only　emphasizes　moral　education　but　also　prioritizes　students’　social　and　emotional　development，　aiming　to　cultivate　future　citizens　with　a　global　outlook　and　innovative　mindset.　The　initiative　calls　for　a　focus　on　the　technology　ethics　and　sustainable　development，　advocating　for　the　integration　of　global　competence，　ethical　considerations，　and　sustainability　into　technology　and　engineering　education.　It　encourages　students　to　gain　an　understanding　of　and　respect　for　technological　innovations　and　practices　across　diverse　cultural　contexts.　The　initiative　also　calls　on　governments　and　international　organizations　to　strengthen　policy　support　for　technology　and　engineering　education，　enhance　international　exchange　and　cooperation，　and　jointly　promote　the　widespread　and　high－quality　development　of　global　technology　and　engineering　education.

At　the　closing　ceremony，　Nanshan　District　made　the　following　commitments：　1.　To　create　a　global　K12　resource　platform　for　technology　and　engineering　education，　enabling　teachers　and　students　worldwide　to　share　course　resources　and　collaborate　on　educational　activities；　2.　To　establish　a　special　K12　technology　and　engineering　education　fund，　encouraging　the　active　participation　of　women　and　children　in　the　development　and　learning　in　the　fields　of　technology　and　engineering；　3.　To　establish　a　K12　Innovation　Academy　for　children　and　youth　to　create　a　seamless　talent　development　system　to　nurture　top－tier　innovative　talents　from　early　childhood　through　to　higher　education；　4.　To　introduce　a　K12　“Global　Competence　Development　Program”　to　foster　sustainability，　technological　values，　engineering　thinking，　and　social　responsibility　of　students；　5.　To　promote　international　cooperation　and　exchange，　facilitating　deeper　collaboration　and　broader　dialogue　in　the　global　technology　and　engineering　education.

This　international　exchange　event　was　jointly　hosted　by　the　UNESCO　Chair　on　Technology　and　Engineering　Education　for　Children　and　Youth　and　the　Nanshan　District　People’s　Government　of　Shenzhen，　with　the　Nanshan　District　Education　Bureau　as　the　organizer，　and　co－organized　by　School　of　Education　Science　of　Nanjing　Normal　University　and　School　of　Education　of　Soochow　University.　During　the　international　exchange　segment　on　November　18－19，　the　event　brought　together　24　education　experts　from　countries　such　as　China，　the　US，　Canada，　the　UK，　Brunei，　Cambodia，　Sweden，　and　Nigeria.　The　experts　focused　on　global　perspectives　and　diverse　approaches　to　the　technology　and　engineering　education　for　primary　and　secondary　schools　in　the　digital　era，　sharing　both　theoretical　insights　and　practical　experiences　from　their　respective　countries　and　regions.

Written　by　Ifeng　Shenzhen　News　Channel，　Intern　Li　Yumei，　Correspondent　Chen　Kai

Images　provided　by　the　Organizers