The future belongs to curious minds and global thinkers: students who not only absorb knowledge but apply it creatively and interdisciplinarily to solve real-world challenges. That’s why our collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), through Nord Anglia Education (NAE), is central to shaping our STEAM learning approach.
MIT’s motto, “Mens et Manus”—meaning mind and hand—perfectly captures how our students learn. Unlike traditional education, which often separates subjects, our project-based and interdisciplinary approach connects theory with real-world application. Through hands-on projects, students explore the intersections of science and creativity, imagination and logic.
At St Andrews, the MIT collaboration directly informs our curriculum by embedding community-focused, real-world problem-solving into STEAM units. Each year, MIT issues thematic challenges, which our students tackle through their coursework. For example, the Year 9 Artificial Reef Project combines STEAM disciplines to design and implement artificial coral reefs, highlighting their critical role in marine ecosystems.
Inspired by MIT’s teaching ethos and in partnership with the Thai Ocean Academy and SCG Thailand, our students receive expert guidance throughout the project. After months of dedicated work, the project culminates in an expo where students present their innovative designs for the reef. The winning design is selected for real-world deployment in Chonburi Province.
Our collaboration extends through the Global Campus platform, connecting Nord Anglia students from 80 schools worldwide to collaborate and compete in MIT-inspired challenges. One highlight is the “Hack the Tube” competition, a nod to a famous MIT tradition. From thousands of applicants across NAE schools, only 50 students earned a spot at the prestigious MIT-NAE High School STEAM Experience 2023 in Boston, two of whom were St Andrews students, Carina (then in Year 11) and Pun Pun (then in Year 9).
Using the tube as the basis of their designs, Carina built and iterated multiple designs of a catapult until it could launch objects with force and distance. Pun Pun created an innovative raft that helped collect garbage in water bodies, which withstood natural forces to remain afloat and drift at impressive speeds in all directions.
Their creative solutions and inspiring efforts demonstrate the real-world impact of our STEAM programme.
Watch their winning videos below:
Carina's Catapult
Pun Pun's Pollution Prevention-Pontoon
Through our collaboration with MIT, St Andrews students are empowered to explore, invent, and lead. They aren’t just preparing for exams, they’re preparing to change the world.
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