Kingston - Queen’s University Faculty of Education has launched a community outreach centre aimed at better integrating educational services with community groups and local schools, and helping researchers to better understand barriers students face while pursuing math, science and technology education.

“This is an important step in the realization of the Faculty of Education’s vision,” says Dean Rosa Bruno-Jofré. “The Centre will play a fundamental role in our continuing efforts to build knowledge in close relationships with students, teachers, and the community at large.”

Queen’s Community Outreach Centre will provide the school’s Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (MSTE) Group with the capacity to act as a community resource, providing access to programs and curricula they develop, and allowing them to take those programs out into local area schools.

Funded in part by a $600,000 grant from the Imperial Oil Foundation, the intention is to provide programs for elementary students in a relaxed context that can also target literacy. The Centre’s activities will build on current research already integrating mathematics, science and technology at the elementary level.

“At Imperial, we believe that educating and inspiring young people in the areas of science and technology is beneficial not only for students, but also for the prosperity of the country as a whole,” said Monica Samper, president, Imperial Oil Foundation. “We’re pleased to partner with Queen's on this project that will specifically address the needs of disadvantaged students, and search for ways to remove the barriers they face in pursuing studies in these disciplines.”

The MSTE group is a research and development team, dedicated to improving teaching and learning in the mathematics, science and technology fields.