Are you a young innovator, interested in STEM, sustainability?
Are you curious about the world and keen to make local impact?
Join a 5-week, virtual exchange program culminating in a 5-day in-person residential innovation week.
The online program and workshop will focus on STEM, global competence, and sustainability,
with an emphasis on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Applications for 2023 are now closed.
Build the skills and understanding needed to advance global sustainable development and become an active global citizen!
Interactive online
learning
Interactive content modules, to work through at your own pace.
Become an active global citizen
Join online forums to connect with others to share and reflect on your learning and ideas.
Learn with others
Virtual live sessions with other participants and experts and an in-person workshop.
Mentors
Qualified facilitator to mentor and guide you.
About the program
Am I eligible?
Are you 14-16 years of age, at high school, and a resident
of Western Australia?
Are you interested in STEM, sustainability, eager to expand your knowledge of global competence and the UN Sustainable Development Goals?
Are you curious with a willingness to interact with diverse peers?
Then this program is for you.
Applications for 2023 are now closed
What will I do on the program?
The AFS Global STEM Innovators program consists of two parts.
The program begins with a 5-week, virtual global competence education program, and culminates with a 5-day in-person residential sustainability workshop.
The online program and workshop will focus on STEM, global competence, and sustainability, with an emphasis on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
What does the program cost?
The AFS Global STEM Innovators program is a scholarship program with no cost to participants.
The Scholarship covers the tuition of the five-week digital program and costs and activities associated with the 5-day residential workshop.
Who will I connect with on the program?
During the program you will connect with other participants, creative and active young entrepreneurs and business leaders who play important roles in STEM, sustainability and innovation in Australia.
Throughout the program you will be supported by a mentor and online program facilitator.
Your commitment to learning
How many applicants are selected?
50 Australian participants will be selected from Western Australia for the The AFS Global STEM Innovators program.
Participants are expected to engage fully in all aspects of the program and attend four of the five facilitated sessions to be eligible for the residential innovation week.
How much time do I need to dedicate to the program?
Participants will be expected to allocate approximately 2.5 hours each week to the program.
This time will be distributed between self paced online activities and facilitated sessions.
What do I need?
A computer, smartphone or other digital device to access the virtual program content.
An integrated webcam and microphone for participation in online dialogue sessions.
Stable internet or wifi connection
Please reach out if this is a barrier to you applying for the program.
Develop your global skills
Receive the AFS Global Competence Certificate acknowledging your active global citizenship skills.
Learn about yourself and others
Deepen your awareness of one’s self, one’s identity, and one’s culture, and explore how all three intersect.
Identify and understand how cultural groups shape ways of feeling, perceiving, thinking, and behaving.
Become an active global citizen
Get to know the UN SDGs and how they connect with one’s realities.
Develop increased curiosity and concern about urgent global issues.
Understand the interdependence of the global community.
Build emotional intelligence
Learn to suspend judgment and be flexible in new and different cultural contexts.
Apply effective strategies to deal with ambiguous situations.
Communicate and collaborate more effectively and appropriately with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and identities.
Are you ready to become a Global STEM Innovator ?
View the program, week to week
Week 1 - Welcome and kickoff
23rd August
Get to know each other and introduction to the Global STEM Innovators program.
Why does the world need Global STEM changemakers?
Week 2 - Live session 1
30 August
Explore cultural identities and learning to suspend judgement.
What does culture have to do with attitudes towards climate change and environmentalism?
Week 3 - Live session 2
6 September
Navigate cultural differences, cultural stereotypes and stereotypes around STEM, climate change and environmentalism.
Week 4 - Live session 3
13 September
Understand inequalities, exploring power and privilege and their connection to inequalities present in climate change.
Week 5 - Live session 4
20 September
21st century skills and becoming a global citizen. Getting ready for the design thinking challenge!
Innovation week - Perth
25 - 29 September
Participants come together in Perth for a week of innovation. Meet industry leaders in sustainability and innovation, and put everything you have learned in the previous month together in a design sprint. Participants who complete four of the five live facilitated sessions are eligible to attend.
Day 1 Arrival, welcome, local area walk, and teambuilding
Day 2 Industry day: participants will have the opportunity to learn about innovation in industry to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Day 3 Indigenous day: participants will learn about and explore indigenous perspectives in innovation and sustainability
Day 4 Design thinking day: participants will engage in a design challenge to find a STEM solution to one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Day 5 Final showcase of solutions, closing ceremony and departure
Are you ready to become an AFS STEM Innovator?
Applications for 2023 are now closed
