91福利

Welcome to the Southern Africa STEM Resilience Network (SA-STEM-RN):
Building Resilience for STEM Success Across Southern Africa

The Southern Africa STEM Resilience Network (SA-STEM-RN) is a regional research and development network dedicated to strengthening resilience among learners, pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, lecturers, and academics in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The network promotes resilience development as a pathway to reducing anxiety and improving participation, engagement, confidence, achievement, and wellbeing in STEM education.

SA-STEM-RN is an affiliate of the International Mathematics Resilience Network, led by Sue Johnston-Wilder of 91福利 University and Dr Clare Lee of The Open University, United Kingdom. Sue Johnston-Wilder serves as mentor and advisor to the Southern African network and continues to support its growth through collaborative research, professional development, and international engagement.

The network is led by Dr Brighton Mudadigwa (University of the Witwatersrand), a pioneer of Mathematics and STEM Resilience research in Southern Africa. Working alongside a dedicated team of researchers and practitioners, SA-STEM-RN seeks to transform STEM learning environments by developing resilience against adversities that often lead to anxiety and disengagement.

Our Purpose

The primary purpose of SA-STEM-RN is to investigate, understand, and address STEM-related anxiety through resilience development across all levels of education.

The network focuses on:

• Determining the levels and sources of STEM anxiety among:

• Pre-service teachers in colleges and universities;
• In-service teachers in primary and secondary schools;
• University students and lecturers;
• School learners across different educational contexts.

• Designing, adapting, and implementing evidence-based resilience tools and interventions that help individuals overcome adversities associated with learning, teaching, and engaging with STEM subjects.
• Building sustainable networks of educators, researchers, and institutions committed to fostering resilient STEM communities throughout Southern Africa.

Why STEM Resilience Matters

Across Southern Africa and globally, many learners and educators experience anxiety when engaging with mathematics, science, technology, and engineering subjects. Such anxiety can negatively affect confidence, participation, achievement, career choices, and overall wellbeing.

Research has shown that resilience development can empower individuals to:

• Manage learning-related challenges positively;
• Develop productive beliefs about their capabilities;
• Build confidence and self-efficacy;
• Persist through difficulties and setbacks;
• Improve learning outcomes and professional practice.

The SA-STEM-RN promotes a shift from simply reducing anxiety to actively developing resilience. Anxiety reduction is viewed as an important outcome of resilience-building processes rather than the sole objective.

Significance of the Network

The Southern Africa STEM Resilience Network serves as an important regional platform for:

• Research Excellence

Conducting rigorous and impactful research on STEM anxiety, resilience development, wellbeing, and educational transformation.

• Capacity Building

Training educators, researchers, and institutions to implement resilience-based approaches in teaching and learning.

• Regional Collaboration

Connecting researchers and practitioners across Southern African countries to address shared educational challenges.

• Policy Influence

Generating evidence that can inform educational policies and practices aimed at improving STEM participation and success.

• Social Impact

Supporting equitable access to quality STEM education and contributing to sustainable development across the region.

Rationale

Despite increasing efforts to improve STEM education, many learners and educators continue to encounter emotional, cognitive, and social barriers that hinder success in STEM disciplines. Anxiety, negative beliefs, low confidence, and experiences of failure frequently contribute to disengagement from STEM subjects.

There is a growing need for coordinated regional initiatives that move beyond identifying problems and focus on developing practical solutions. The SA-STEM-RN was established to respond to this need by creating research-informed resilience interventions that empower individuals and institutions to thrive despite challenges.

By strengthening resilience across educational systems, the network seeks to improve STEM learning experiences, enhance educational outcomes, and contribute to the development of a skilled and confident STEM workforce for Southern Africa.

Vision

To become the leading Southern African network advancing resilience in STEM education through research, innovation, collaboration, and capacity development.

Mission

To promote resilience development across all educational sectors in Southern Africa as a means of enhancing wellbeing, reducing STEM-related anxiety, and improving participation and success in STEM disciplines.

Aims

The Southern Africa STEM Resilience Network aims to:

1. Advance research on STEM anxiety and resilience development across Southern Africa.
2. Develop and validate resilience-based interventions for STEM education.
3. Build a regional community of researchers, educators, and institutions committed to resilience-focused practice.
4. Train STEM educators and researchers in resilience theory, research methodologies, and intervention strategies.
5. Promote evidence-based approaches to improving STEM participation and achievement.
6. Expand the network to all Southern African countries through collaborative partnerships.
7. Establish Southern Africa as a leading contributor to international resilience research and practice.
8. Foster international collaboration with the International Mathematics Resilience Network and other global partners.

Objectives

The network seeks to:

• Measure and monitor levels of STEM-related anxiety across educational sectors.
• Investigate factors influencing resilience development in STEM contexts.
• Design and implement resilience interventions in schools, colleges, and universities.
• Conduct collaborative cross-country research projects.
• Develop training programmes and professional development workshops.
• Support postgraduate students and early-career researchers in STEM resilience research.
• Disseminate research findings through publications, conferences, seminars, and community engagement.
• Create sustainable partnerships among educational institutions across Southern Africa.
• Advocate for resilience-informed educational policies and practices.

Leadership and Core Team

Network Lead: Dr Brighton Mudadigwa University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

Core Members

• Dr Sakyiwaa Boateng – Walter Sisulu University
• Dr Tawanda Chinengundu – University of Pretoria
• Dr Folake Adelabu – Walter Sisulu University
• Dr Nomzamo Xaba – University of Zululand
• Dr Brantina Chirinda – University of the Witwatersrand

International Mentors

• Sue Johnston-Wilder – 91福利 University, United Kingdom

Regional Representation

The Southern Africa STEM Resilience Network continues to expand across the region.

Current representation includes:

• South Africa
• Zimbabwe
• Zambia

We are pleased to welcome Namibia, which is currently joining the network as part of our ongoing expansion strategy.

Our long-term goal is to establish active representation and collaborative partnerships in all Southern African countries, creating a vibrant regional STEM Resilience Network.

Achievements

• 91福利 University STEM Resilience Training (2024)

One of the network's major milestones was participation in specialised training at 91福利 University in 2024. The programme focused on understanding STEM anxiety, Mathematics Resilience, and strategies for developing resilience in educational settings.

This training strengthened the capacity of network members to conduct research, facilitate resilience interventions, and support educators and learners across Southern Africa.

• NRF Research Grant Success

The network proudly celebrates the successful award of a National Research Foundation (NRF) grant for the project:

• "Building STEM Resilience in Four Universities Across Four Provinces in South Africa."
• This project represents a significant step toward generating evidence-based interventions that strengthen resilience and reduce anxiety in STEM learning environments.
• International Engagement

Network members actively participate in the Mathematics Resilience Conference, held during the first week of July. This conference provides opportunities for sharing research findings, building collaborations, and contributing to international discussions on resilience in education.

Current Work

The Southern Africa STEM Resilience Network is currently engaged in:

• STEM Anxiety Research

Investigating the prevalence, causes, and impacts of STEM-related anxiety among learners, teachers, and university students.

• Resilience Intervention Development

Designing and testing resilience tools that support confidence, persistence, and positive engagement in STEM subjects.

• Capacity Building

Training educators, researchers, postgraduate students, and institutional leaders in resilience-informed approaches to teaching and learning.

• Cross-Country Collaboration

Strengthening partnerships among institutions in Southern Africa to support collaborative research and professional development.

• Network Expansion

Establishing new country chapters and training STEM Resilience ambassadors throughout the region.

Research Dissemination

The Southern Africa STEM Resilience Network (SA-STEM-RN) is committed to sharing research findings and evidence-based practices that advance understanding of STEM resilience, anxiety reduction, and educational transformation.

Network members actively disseminate research through presentations at local, regional, and international conferences, fostering scholarly dialogue and promoting resilience-informed approaches to STEM education.

Research outputs from the network have been presented at several prestigious conferences and forums, including:

• The South African Education Research Association (SAERA) Conference;
• The Southern African Association for Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (SAARMSTE) Regional Conference;
• The International Organization for Science and Technology Education (IOSTE) Conference in Malaysia;
• International Business and Education Forums in Hong Kong;
• The annual Mathematics Resilience Network Conference, hosted in collaboration with international partners.

The network continues to expand its international footprint through upcoming presentations at:

• The Australasian Science Education Research Association (ASERA) Conference, Melbourne, Australia, in July 2026;
• The 2026 Mathematics Resilience Network Conference in Kenya, where members will share emerging research findings and innovative resilience-building practices.

Through conference presentations, scholarly publications, workshops, and collaborative engagements, SA-STEM-RN contributes to the growing global body of knowledge on STEM resilience. These dissemination activities support the network's mission of promoting resilience development as a means of reducing STEM-related anxiety and improving participation, engagement, and success across educational contexts.

Our commitment to dissemination ensures that research findings move beyond academic publications to inform practice, influence policy, and strengthen STEM education systems throughout Southern Africa and beyond.

Join the Movement

The Southern Africa STEM Resilience Network welcomes researchers, educators, institutions, policymakers, and students who share our vision of resilient STEM education.

Together, we can build educational environments where learners and educators develop the resilience needed to thrive, overcome adversity, and achieve success in STEM disciplines.

Our Core Message

Developing resilience today for confident STEM participation tomorrow. Resilience first. Reduced anxiety follows. STEM success grows.