A method of inducing MAFA expression in cells expressing markers characteristic of one or both of pancreatic endoderm cells and endocrine precursor cells or in cells expressing markers characteristic of pancreatic endocrine cells by (a) culturing with a medium supplemented with: (i) one or more of triiodothyronine, thyroxine or a thyroid hormone analogue; (ii) an ALK5 inhibitor or (iii) both (i) and (ii) and one or more of an p90 ribosomal S6 kinase inhibitor, and an inhibitor of protein methyltransferase DOT1L; or (b) culturing with a medium supplemented with: one or more of triiodothyronine, thyroxine or a thyroid hormone analogue, an ALK5 inhibitor, and one or more of an aurora kinase inhibitor, an p90 ribosomal S6 kinase inhibitor, and an inhibitor of protein methyltransferase DOT1L; wherein the markers characteristic of pancreatic endoderm cells is at least one of PDX1, NKX6.1, HNF1β, PTFla, HNF6, HNF4a, SOX9, NGN3, gastrin; HB9, or PROX1; wherein the markers characteristic of endocrine precursor cells is at least one of NGN3, NKX2.2, NeuroD11, ISL1, PAX4, PAX6, or ARX; and wherein the markers characteristic of pancreatic endocrine cells is at least one of NeuroD1, ISL1, PDX1, NKX6.1, ARX, NKX2.2, HB9 and PAX6, preferably wherein the cells expressing markers characteristic of pancreatic endocrine cells are capable of expressing at least one of the hormones insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, ghrelin, and pancreatic polypeptide. (a) culturing with a medium supplemented with: (i) one or more of triiodothyronine, thyroxine or a thyroid hormone analogue; (ii) an ALK5 inhibitor or (iii) both (i) and (ii) and one or more of an p90 ribosomal S6 kinase inhibitor, and an inhibitor of protein methyltransferase DOT1L; or (i) one or more of triiodothyronine, thyroxine or a thyroid hormone analogue; (ii) an ALK5 inhibitor or (iii) both (i) and (ii) (b) culturing with a medium supplemented with: one or more of triiodothyronine, thyroxine or a thyroid hormone analogue, an ALK5 inhibitor, and one or more of an aurora kinase inhibitor, an p90 ribosomal S6 kinase inhibitor, and an inhibitor of protein methyltransferase DOT1L; wherein the markers characteristic of pancreatic endoderm cells is at least one of PDX1, NKX6.1, HNF1β, PTFla, HNF6, HNF4a, SOX9, NGN3, gastrin; HB9, or PROX1; wherein the markers characteristic of endocrine precursor cells is at least one of NGN3, NKX2.2, NeuroD11, ISL1, PAX4, PAX6, or ARX; and wherein the markers characteristic of pancreatic endocrine cells is at least one of NeuroD1, ISL1, PDX1, NKX6.1, ARX, NKX2.2, HB9 and PAX6, preferably wherein the cells expressing markers characteristic of pancreatic endocrine cells are capable of expressing at least one of the hormones insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, ghrelin, and pancreatic polypeptide. one or more of triiodothyronine, thyroxine or a thyroid hormone analogue, an ALK5 inhibitor, and one or more of an aurora kinase inhibitor, an p90 ribosomal S6 kinase inhibitor, and an inhibitor of protein methyltransferase DOT1L; wherein the markers characteristic of pancreatic endoderm cells is at least one of PDX1, NKX6.1, HNF1β, PTFla, HNF6, HNF4a, SOX9, NGN3, gastrin; HB9, or PROX1; wherein the markers characteristic of endocrine precursor cells is at least one of NGN3, NKX2.2, NeuroD11, ISL1, PAX4, PAX6, or ARX; and wherein the markers characteristic of pancreatic endocrine cells is at least one of NeuroD1, ISL1, PDX1, NKX6.1, ARX, NKX2.2, HB9 and PAX6, preferably wherein the cells expressing markers characteristic of pancreatic endocrine cells are capable of expressing at least one of the hormones insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, ghrelin, and pancreatic polypeptide.