KOTA KINABALU:ConocoPhillips today announced the launch of its flagship Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Accelerator program, reinforcing the company’s commitment to education, talent development and community advancement in Sabah.
In 2026, ConocoPhillips will commit RM1.2 million to launch this program and sustain existing STEM initiatives as part of its broader long‑term investment in education.
This is in addition to the RM1.7 million that the company has contributed to date since 2023 when ConocoPhillips first started working with stakeholders on STEM‑related programs.
The launch was officiated by Krishna K.S @ Mohd Fadzli bin Hj Abd Rozan, Deputy Director of the Sabah State Education Department, together with senior representatives from SMJ Energy and ConocoPhillips’ CSR partners Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), PINTAR Foundation and Persatuan Alumni Universiti Texas (PAUT).
Increasing enrollment in the secondary-level Pure Science (STEM A) stream and sustaining student interest through vocational and tertiary education is essential to strengthening the future talent pipeline for the oil and gas industry.
ConocoPhillips’ involvement with STEM education began in 2023 through a partnership with Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) on the STEMXplore program, focused on promoting interest in STEM among secondary school students. Since then, the program has reached 41 schools and benefited more than 4,000 students through additional exposure to STEM subjects.
The new flagship STEM Accelerator complements these existing efforts and represents an additional step in supporting the state’s aspiration to improve overall academic performance in STEM subjects.
The STEM Accelerator program is designed to spark curiosity, strengthen foundations and build confidence in Mathematics and Science among Form 1–5 students. Beginning in 2026, the program will reach more than 3,000 students across 35 schools in five districts, spanning Sabah’s
West Coast, East Coast and northern regions. The program will focus on:
Providing hands‑on workshops and additional tuition support directly to students.
Providing structured training guides and mentoring support to teachers.
Supporting students at home with home learning toolkits to help parents create an enabling home learning environment
The program aims to improve academic achievement in STEM subjects and increase enrolment in STEM electives among secondary school students, strengthening Sabah’s long‑term talent pipeline.
The STEM Accelerator is delivered in close collaboration with the Sabah State Education Department and ConocoPhillips’ partners, each bringing distinct and complementary strengths to the program:
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) – Existing STEMXplore partner, contributing academic expertise and structured STEM learning frameworks that align educational content with future industry needs.
PINTAR Foundation – A national public‑private platform for education, supporting school engagement and implementation, and working closely with educators to strengthen learning outcomes.
Persatuan Alumni Universiti Texas (PAUT) – Enhances the program through hands‑on, experiential approaches that translate STEM concepts into real‑world problem solving.
“We thank the Sabah State Education Department, SMJ Energy and our partners for their strong support. Together, these partnerships form a cohesive STEM ecosystem that aligns education priorities with industry relevance and community impact“ said Krish Krishnan, General Manager, KBB Operations, ConocoPhillips Malaysia.
“This is an investment in Sabah’s future by helping to develop a capable workforce needed to meet the state’s growth ambitions”, said Connor Dunn, President, ConocoPhillips Malaysia.-pr/BNN
