SEAMEO QITEP in Science (SEAQIS) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing science education in Southeast Asia through international collaboration at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Belt and Road International Science Education Consortium (BRISEC), held from 10 to 15 June 2025 in Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
The BRISEC Annual Meeting serves as a high-level forum for members to review ongoing initiatives, explore new opportunities for cooperation, and propose future directions in global science education. The meeting brought together prominent science education leaders, including BRISEC President Prof. Xiang-Ping Wu, alongside BRISEC members from institutions across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Representing SEAQIS were Mr Reza Setiawan, Director of SEAQIS, and Mr Rizwan Darmawan, Head of the Partnership and Publication Division. During the meeting, SEAQIS presented key achievements from August 2024 to May 2025 in science instructor development and youth engagement. Notable programmes included the Regional Training for Science and Education Personnel in Southeast Asia, which focused on Earth and Space Science, Environmental Education, and Science Classroom Supervision, as well as the 4th Ki Hajar Dewantara Award that recognised innovative science educators from Southeast Asia through a regional award and international conference.
In youth-focused activities, SEAQIS reported two successful STEM competitions: the Virtual STEM Challenge 2024 with Indonesian schools in Saudi Arabia, and the SEAQIS–PT PHR STEM Challenge 2024 in Riau, Indonesia. These events encouraged students to apply STEM principles in solving real-world problems, fostering creativity, collaboration, and scientific thinking.
SEAQIS also proposed future collaborations with BRISEC members, including support for Indonesian participants in the upcoming Teenager Maker Camp and Teacher Workshop in China, and potential partnerships for training courses, seminars, and other science education initiatives across the region.
Through its active engagement in the BRISEC Annual Meeting, SEAQIS continues to strengthen its global partnerships and affirm its strategic role in elevating science education across Southeast Asia.
Writer: Rizwan Darmawan
