{"id":27522,"date":"2025-07-15T15:31:37","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T14:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/?p=27522"},"modified":"2025-07-15T15:31:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T14:31:37","slug":"the-connect-initiative-empowering-the-next-generation-for-global-digital-co-operation-through-sci-tech-diplomacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/around-ou\/university-news\/the-connect-initiative-empowering-the-next-generation-for-global-digital-co-operation-through-sci-tech-diplomacy\/","title":{"rendered":"The CONNECT Initiative: empowering the next generation for global digital co-operation through sci-tech diplomacy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The CONNECT initiative<\/a>, led by The Open University and discussed during UNESCO\u2019s Science Diplomacy Dialogue and Global Education events<\/a>, is being recognised as a flagship example of capacity-building in scientific and technological diplomacy.<\/p>\n

CONNECT<\/a> is a project aiming to support secondary schools to adopt open schooling, integrating science-action in the core-curriculum and using participatory-science with families, universities and enterprises.<\/p>\n

With more than 50,000 students engaged across five countries, CONNECT illustrates how young people can co-create solutions to global challenges by combining emerging technologies, collaborative problem-solving, and diplomatic skills.<\/p>\n

Using the CARE\u2013KNOW\u2013DO framework<\/a> \u2013 an open schooling approach where schools work with families and experts to solve real problems, students \u2014 especially from underserved communities, climate-affected regions, rural areas, semi-arid zones, and Indigenous territories \u2014 collaborate with scientists, educators, and civil society to co-develop real-world scientific and technological solutions to issues across the globe.<\/p>\n