Launching the Arm Innovation lab in Chongqing, China

Hao Xue, Arm Education Manager for APAC, reports on the successful launch of an Innovation Lab in Chongqing.

The Arm School Program is Building Partnerships to Close the STEM Skills Gap

The Arm School Program’s (ASP) approach to partnership is an extension of Arm’s overall approach: developing win-win partnerships where the combined capabilities are greater than the sum of their parts. The same goes for Arm Innovation Education labs in China, such as the one launched recently in Nanjing, which are equipped with Education Kits from Arm Education (including hardware from Arm partners and teaching and learning resources). This provides visiting college students with everything they need to study core computer engineering courses.

We’re now beginning to extend this model into schools. Recently, a ceremony was held in Chongqing to launch the ‘Chongqing Renmin Primary School-Arm China Innovation Laboratory’ which is a maker space in the school, kitted out with micro:bits and including some teaching and learning content provided by the Arm School Program.

The Arm China Innovation Lab Day in Chongqing

Attendees at the launch included Ms. Cecille El Beleidi, British Consul-General in Chongqing, Ms. Yang Langlang, Principal of Chongqing Renmin Primary School and myself, the Arm Education Manager.

In her remarks, Ms. El Beleidi described how the launch of the Innovation Lab would play an important and positive role in strengthening links between Chongqing and the UK in computer programming education. She also thanked the Micro:bit Foundation and Arm China for introducing to Chongqing schools-projects based on the Micro:bit.

In my role as Arm Education Manager, I gave a keynote speech on ‘The Power of the Arm Education Program’, where I introduced Arm Education’s mission to work with partners, like the municipality of Chonqing, to enable learners in a lifetime of engagement with STEM. I also discussed curriculum development, technical support, relevant international exchange activities, the recent innovation challenge and the promotion of science popularization.

Mr. Hal Speed, Chief of Global Engagement of Micro: bit, introduced the global development of Micro:bit, and thanked the partners present for their help and support in launching the Micro:bit pilot program in Chongqing Renmin Primary School.

This is yet another great example of how the Arm School Program is harnessing partnerships in order to help close the STEM skills gap.

You can find out more about ASP in China in my upcoming blog – watch this space! Sign up to our newsletter to find out the latest ASP news.

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