- Tackling STEM Challenges in Europe Alexa Joyce 02/05/2012

Dedicated to Support schools in bringing about the best use of technology in learning Promote the European dimension in schools and education Improve and raise the quality of education in Europe Network of 31 Ministries of Education in Europe What is European Schoolnet (EUN)?

Three strands of activity EUN Activities Policy and Practice: Innovation and exchange School networking and services – Validation and support Interoperability and content exchange – Resource platform Three mains Strands of activities

Europe is training too few scientists, technology experts and engineers – Asian countries train twice as many scientists compared to European member states, and three times as many engineers. Europe’s highest scientific achievers – Finnish students – outperformed by Chinese students in Shanghai and Hong Kong Downward trend in choice of scientific higher education and career paths: Need for structural change Focus on STEM Education

European students: low interest in science Horizontal axis: Human Development Index Vertical axis: Scores on questions designed to measure positive attitudes towards studying science Svein Sjoberg, University of Oslo: Project ROSE

Motivated and recognised teachers Innovative pedagogy and creative curriculum In-service training and support Access to new resources and contents Embed actions in the curriculum. Identify and promote transferable good practice. Schoolnet’s Approach Industry engagement Assess how industry can help: Better understanding of science studies and jobs (role models, visits,..) Motivation: link to real life/societal issues Decision making on career choices

From good practices to structural changes European Coordinating Body for Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths Education (inGenious) 8.3 M Euro investment – 50% from EC, 50% from industry Federate key players at national and international level 16 multi-national companies via European Round Table of Industrialists + 10 Ministries/national science education platforms/universities/federations & associations New partners can join any time

Bring teachers and industry together to excite students about STEM, by Demonstrating how science and technology skills can help young people get jobs Enhancing the perception of school science and showing how cutting edge science and technology contributes to students’ lives Giving a more realistic view of scientific jobs, to fight stereotypes and encourage women and minorities to consider scientific careers inGenious objectives

Education–Industry cooperation addressing Attractiveness In STEM Supporting and federating national initiatives Offering European Exchange platform Multistakeholder initiative inGenious in a nutshell

Reinforce links between STEM careers in the private sector Strengthening link between industry & education Lack of interest Future skills gap Challenges Repository of good practice European Exchange Platform Disseminate and stimulate the best practices Initiatives inGenious in a nutshell

Supporting and federating national initiatives inGenious in a nutshell

Immediate actions Policy and Practices observatory Core network of pilot schools for validation Dissemination and engagement of extended network Experts and teachers scientific committee/ Strategic group Associate Partners

Who’s involved in InGenious?

Future participation in STEM studies and careers “Finally student motivation and interest remains relatively low because they struggle to link school STEM experiences to their lives.” Intel White Paper - Science, technology, engineering and mathematics education: Overcoming challenges in Europe EUN (2012), in collaboration with Intel

White Paper on STEM Education Outlines state of STEM education in the EMEA region and reasons why the region’s future competitiveness in innovation is in peril STEM skills gap in European EMEA countries compared to other regions across the globe is widening: in Asian countries STEM students can account for up to 20% of the student population, whereas in Europe, this percentage is only around 2%.

Proposes a systemic approach based on partnership to address multiple and complex factors at stake White Paper on STEM Education

Need for partnership

Suggests steps locally and across participating countries in order to benchmark Highlights the role of science fairs and events in stimulating interest in STEM topics and careers, and the importance of equipping teachers in the context of a fast changing STEM industry and research scenario Outlines key priorities and successful models for scaling up STEM activities within the informal field as well as the formal education system Formulates a set of 5 recommendations to mainstream islands of innovation and deploy a systemic approach White Paper conclusions...

Recommendation 1: Establish and enhance sustainable multi-stakeholder partnerships to combine forces to tackle the challenges of STEM education Recommendation 2: Enhance and reform STEM curricula, pedagogy and assessment Recommendation 3: Embed science fairs and festivals in the mainstream of school activity Recommendation 4: Offer more support to STEM teachers Recommendation 5: Learn from and build on excellent approaches …and recommendations

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