GENEVA: Malaysia has shared its science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) experience with UNESCO to further foster sustainable development among its 195 member countries.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said human capital development in STEM is vital in Malaysia's journey to become a high income and advanced economic nation by 2020.
"STEM human capital is expected to be the main driver to Malaysia's economic growth underpinned by value creation activities through technological inventions and innovations.
“This will in turn create a broad rippling wealth and employment generating effect across the country," Muhyiddin said here earlier today at UNESCO's International Bureau of Education.
Muhyiddin who is also education minister is at the tail end of his working visit to France and Switzerland as part of Malaysia's efforts to bid for a seat on UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) executive board for the 2015-2019 term.
Towards that end, Malaysia has lent its support to UNESCO by awarding US$300,000 as financial support for UNESCO's "Strengthening STEM for girls in Africa and Asia Pacific (phase one) involving Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and. Indonesia, of which Malaysia is the content consultant.
The cost of the 18 month project comes under the Malaysia-UNESCO cooperation programme : Malaysia Funds-In-Trust which was signed by the government of Malaysia and UNESCO in 2011.
The Malaysia-UNESCO Cooperation programme was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during the 35th session of the UNESCO general conference in 2009 with an initial contribution of US$5 million and a subsequent contribution of US$1 million a year.
The purpose of the Malaysia-UNESCO cooperation programme is to fund and co-fund with UNESCO projects that will benefit mainly small Island development states, least developed countries, African and Asia Pacific countries, of which to date 17 projects amounting at more than US$5 million have been approved.