Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1202928
23.01.2020 5 NEWS THE National STEM Career Expo kicked off this week at Esplora, Interactive Sci- ence Centre, Kalkara with a number of schoolchildren in Years 4, 5 & 6 (late primary) who attended in collaboration with the National School Support Servic- es within the Ministry for Education and Employment (MEDE). e Expo is being held as part of a tripar- tite initiative between the Malta Council for Science & Technology (MCST), the University of Malta (UM) and the Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology (MCAST) with the support of MEDE. Hosting over 25 entities including (pri- vate companies, government bodies, research performing institutions, and NGOs, amongst others.) the STEM Ca- reer Expo showcases a broad range of oc- cupations in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathemat- ics). It offers a unique opportunity for children and their families to meet profes- sionals from a wide variety of fields (such as engineering, computer science, health science, pharmacy, data analysis, science communication, manufacturing, space science, environmental conservation and marine science,) and engage with them via short, interactive, hands-on activities. Building, coding, quizzes, role-play games are just some of the activities in store. Additional activities taking place dur- ing the weekend include a STEM Game Show, a Guess What I Do Who/Hot Seat Game coordinated by JobsPlus, a mini maker space and a storytelling session for our youngest guests. e Expo will be open for school visits from Tuesday to Friday from 9 am until 1 pm, and for the general public on Satur- day 25th and Sunday 26th January from 10 am until 6 pm. According to e Future of Jobs report compiled by the World Economic Forum, 65 % of the jobs children will do will be new careers. Most will be STEM-related. Beyond this soaring demand for profes- sionals, STEM subjects are also essential for children and young people to develop crucial life skills such as solving problems, evaluating data and thinking creatively. Further to the National STEM engage- ment conference which was held last May, a collective STEM Engagement Position Paper was presented by the three entities. e position paper presented a recom- mendation for a STEM Working Group to push forward the cohesive ideas presented in the tripartite proposal as well as the de- velopment of a consolidated Malta Science Communication Strategy. e STEM Ca- reer Expo came about as one of the actions put forward by the working group. e STEM Career Expo is part-financed by the Erasmus+ Project RAISE "Raising Awareness and Interest in STEAM Em- ployment". For more information on the exhibitors, activities and competitions, kindly follow the National STEM Career Expo Face- book event page. First national STEM career expo BUSINESS referral organisation BNI Malta will be hosting a Na- tional Networking Day on Tues- day, February 4, 2020. is event will be one of thou- sands organised around the world as part of BNI's International Net- working WeekTM. e National Networking Day, which will celebrate the key role of networking and business referrals in the development and success of businesses in Malta will also include the participation of Mal- ta's Chamber of SMEs, formerly known as GRTU. e event will consist of an ear- ly morning meeting starting at 7.00am at e Palace Hotel in Sliema and offer both the oppor- tunity to network with other busi- ness and community leaders and to pick up tips and information on how businesses can further grow and succeed through good net- working practices. Among the speakers at the event, which will also include a fair fea- turing BNI Malta members, will be Abigail Mamo, CEO at the Malta Chamber of SMEs and Da- vid Bullock, BNI Malta National Director. Information on how a business can join and directly ben- efit from BNI will also be available. Registration for the annual BNI Networking Day in Malta opens at 6.30am, with the event starting at 7.00am and ending at around 9.30am, but it is ideal to allocate up to 10.30am for post-event net- working. It is recommended that attend- ees bring along at least 100 busi- ness cards. e participation fee, including breakfast, is €10. Established in 2011, BNI Malta is part of Business Networking In- ternational, a global organisation founded thirty-five years ago in the United States by Dr Ivan Mis- ner. Today, it is the world's biggest and best business referral organ- isation with more than 250,000 members across 70 countries who refer more than US$15 billion worth of business for each other annually. More information on the Nation- al Networking Day and about BNI and its chapters in Malta is avail- able by contacting contact either Conway Wigg at conway.wigg@ bpc.com.mt or Carmel Bonello at carmel.bonello@bpc.com.mt. Malta to join International Networking Week events Malta Chamber of SMEs CEO Abigail Mamo among the speakers at this year's National Networking Day event on 4 February