STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education is a growing focus in Africa. More than ever before, people are recognizing the importance of including STEM-related disciplines in the education curriculum.
 
Many believe the future of STEM education is in collaborations. Collaborations that provide immersive education for interested students while creating channels to increase the interest of students. Collaborations that create an avenue for stakeholders to share resources, and build on each other's experience and expertise while pooling resources through their individual networks. Collaboration that fosters a harmonious working relationship with the regulator and the regulated for sustainable impact.

It is on this basis, that OpenLabs has announced its collaboration with Tomorrow Breed, an innovation and growth consultancy for early-stage startups with a keen interest in technology education and up-skilling. This partnership will see both entities pull resources together to drive STEM education, inclusion, and innovation with three flagship programs.

The STEM Prize - A full/partial scholarship program especially for interested and needy girls for select practical courses facilitated by OpenLabs. The courses under this program include social media marketing & content development, HTML5 programming, data analytics & techniques. Through this partnership, more opportunities will be made available for interested but needy students.

STEM Immersion days – This program will take STEM education and skills training on the road to select Second cycle schools in urban, and rural areas. It will deliver first-hand skills training in modern technologies while identifying potential among students.

Corporate Tech Training – This will include crash tech skills training sessions for corporate entities to up-skill employees in relevant tech and social media-related disciplines to help in business forecasting, innovation, strategy, and growth with data and analytics. These boot camps will help businesses understand how important it is for them to invest in their employees' education and career growth by offering them training and resources so they can continue learning throughout their lives.

Speaking at the signing, Klenam Koku Fiadzoe, an alumnus of Open Labs (formerly NIIT) hinted at Tomorrow Breed’s interest in STEM education and business match-making for early-stage startups. He highlighted the broad role technology plays within industrialization, mechanization, innovation, and in the global sharing economy.

Joana Abbiw, the general manager in charge of marketing at OpenLabs, urged like-minded companies and organizations to join and support the initiative.