The Department of Science and Technology–Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) has partnered with Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) for the imake.wemake: create. innovate. collaborate. competition.
The DOST-SEI, which serves as the S&T human resources development arm of the government, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the GBF making the latter as its partner for the youth competition.
The Council described the MOA as “rightful collaboration,” citing that both parties both work toward the advancement of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.
“One of the unique and powerful statements of our Foundation is our sole focus on one advocacy, which is education, particularly STEM education. We are putting all stakes in education with the firm conviction that this is the best way for us to develop as a nation,” GBF Executive Director Grace Colet said in her message during the virtual MOA signing.
She said GBF aims to prepare Filipino learners to be digitally-adept workers, critical thinkers, and innovative problem-solvers who can help their respective communities.
“When we learned about the goals of the competition, it became evident to us how there was so much shared in what we want to achieve. Knowing these goals, the nationwide reach of this competition, and the rigorous selection undertaken to choose the final winners, it is indeed a privilege that with this partnership, we have the honor to select the 2021 GBF Young Scientist Awardees (YSA) from them,” Colet said.
Following the MOA signing, the GBF will choose three GBF Young Scientist Awardees from the finalists of the ongoing 4th imake.wemake competition and the awardees will receive conditional scholarship offers amounting to P85,000 per academic year courtesy of GBF.
“This is on top of the three Youth Innovation Prize (YIP) Awards and the 200,000 cash prize that DOST-SEI will bestow to the teams with the best innovations,” the Council said.
Colet expressed GBF’s full support to “our young Scientists’ passion for applied scientific research and innovation, and their drive to serve our communities through a college scholarship grant for their chosen STEM courses.”
“We will also be providing mentoring, training, and other immersion opportunities to enhance and elevate their STEM expertise with the help of our academic partners and business unit partners,” she added.
DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo expressed gratitude to the BGF for supporting the fourth imake.wemake competition.
“We are very happy of GBF’s desire to partner with us because of our shared vision of improving Filipino lives through STEM. We look forward to more collaborations not just with imake.wemake project but in our many other line-up of programs. We highly appreciate your help,” she said.
The DOST-SEI announced that the Final Project Presentations will be held on Aug. 25-26. The awarding ceremony will virtually take place on Aug. 27.