Today, the initial conference of the “Regional Science Center – RaSTEM” project, one of the largest projects implemented in primary schools in Croatia, was held in the Trokut Incubator for New Technologies. The project worth €2,042,449.12 is being implemented by the City of Šibenik, and is fully financed by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area for the period 2014-2021. Its goal is to stimulate interest in STEM professions – science, technology, engineering and mathematics among children already in primary schools. The students of seven primary schools in the area of Šibenik, Skradin and Murter are waiting for specially designed projects related to robotics, meteorology, climatology and entrepreneurship. The partners in the project are the Croatian Robotics Association, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing from Zagreb and Oslo Metropolitan University.
“The Regional Science Center – RaSTEM is part of the contents by which the City of Šibenik strives to open up as many opportunities as possible to young people for the professions of the future and to connect education with entrepreneurial potential in this area. As part of the project, classrooms are already being equipped, and the training of teachers who will work on specially designed programs for elementary school children is also underway. The programs are adapted to their age and their goal is to help students develop innovative skills through practical classes and to one day contribute to the development not only in the area of Šibenik, but also in the whole of Croatia”, said Šibenik Mayor Željko Burić.
Five elementary schools, founded by the City of Šibenik, participate in the project, namely: Juraj Dalmatinac Elementary School, Juraj Šižgorić Elementary School, Meterize Elementary School, Vrpolje Elementary School, and Brodarica Elementary School. Murterski Škoji Elementary School from Murter and Skradin Elementary School from Skradin are also included. The implementation of the project will train 15 professors in the fields of robotics, climate change and entrepreneurship, who will then transfer the acquired knowledge to 205 students.
“STEM education enables students to have a choice after finishing school. Through this project, we want to offer them the option to work in their towns and to contribute to the development of the local community. Further training, work in the jobs of the future or entrepreneurial projects – these are all opportunities that the Regional Science Center – RaSTEM brings to Šibenik”, pointed out during the panel discussion the Deputy Mayor M.Sc. sc. Danijel Mileta.
In addition to Deputy Mayor Mileta, prof. participated in the panel on topics from the STEM field. Ph.D. Marko Delimar, head of the dislocated Study of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Sources, Ivana Storjak, assistant from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Stipe Komadina, principal of Vrpolje Elementary School, and Natko Duvnjak, principal of Jurja Dalmatinca Elementary School.
The head of the Administrative Department for Economy, Entrepreneurship and Development of the City of Šibenik, Petar Mišura, added that the special value of the project is that it will provide the education of young people and increase their competences, as well as cooperation with the most relevant STEM actors in Croatia.
By the way, the “Regional Science Center – RaSTEM” started in July last year, and will last until March 2024. The participation of 15 teachers and 205 students is planned. The city of Šibenik is actively working on projects that encourage the connection of education and entrepreneurial activities in the area of the city and its surroundings.
As part of the project, classrooms will be arranged inside the schools, which will have additional infrastructure, and the emphasis is on robotics, meteorology, climatology and entrepreneurship. It is intended to educate a minimum of 15 teachers who will be able to educate not only children and other teachers, but also 200 children by the end of the project
The furnishing also includes the environment of the Meterize Primary School, where a park of approximately 300 square meters will be arranged, which will be used to educate children about climate change. A STEM park will be built in the area of the Triangle, and Juraj Dalmatinac Elementary School will receive a special upgrade for the STEM classroom. The education program for children is called ‘New Nikola Tesla’, while the teacher education program is named after Tesla’s physics professor Martin Sekulić.
