How Eastern European Countries Are Investing in STEM Education and Research Infrastructure: As we know, a strong focus on future-proof skills in strategic sectors is essential to sustain EU competitiveness, preparedness, and technological leadership. Education plays a key role in supporting, developing and attracting the talent that the EU needs. We move further into the 21st century, the importance of scientific research.
How Eastern European Countries Are Investing in STEM Education and Research Infrastructure
These cuts severely affect the European Research Infrastructures, which are at the heart of the European Research Area. Over the past decades, these large-scale, shared research facilities have successfully enabled frontier science at an international level and strengthened innovation for the benefit of society, technology-driven organisations and industry.
With the expertise of their operators and the state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, the infrastructures have enabled Europe’s best researchers to push the frontiers of knowledge. And, through the basic research carried out at the research infrastructures, they play an important role in maintaining Europe’s scientific and technological leadership, fostering innovation and technological sovereignty in key areas of development.
What is STEM?
STEM is an umbrella term that groups
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Mathematics
STEM education promotes the development of foundational competencies and transversal skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, and collaborative skills, laying the groundwork for innovative education in the subjects above.
In addition, research infrastructures play an important role in the education and training of young scientists and engineers, which matters to both the academic and industry sectors.
Why are Eastern European countries focusing on STEM?
The European Union is facing a significant challenge in meeting the demand for skilled talent in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. These are important for growing strategic sectors like clean and circular technologies.
There aren’t many qualified professionals to meet the market demand: nearly 80% of small and medium-sized enterprises in the EU struggle to find workers with STEM skills relevant to information and communication technology (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing.
This shortage affects all sectors, including transport, food, and energy, and hinders economic growth and innovation. A decline in basic maths and science skills among 15-year-olds is also a worrying trend. That’s why the European Commission adopted the Union of Skills.
A strategic plan on STEM education
The STEM Education Strategic Plan is a key initiative of the Union of Skills. The plan sets out measures to reverse the trend of declining performance in STEM skills at school.
3 Key Objectives
Lead
This objective aims to increase the number of STEM students in vocational education and training and higher education.
Set up a European STEM Executive Panel that will
- Bring in high-level representatives from business, political or administrative sectors to advise decision-makers on strategic issues such as curriculum modernisation.
- Ensure that education content reflects business needs and job market realities.
Level up
This objective will foster and develop STEM talent across all education levels
- Develop a STEM competence framework to help students, educators and employers clearly understand what competences STEM sectors need and take the necessary steps to develop those competences and skills.
- Work towards a European degree for engineers to provide high-quality and relevant education to the future generations of students.
- Open STEM education centres that will help schools by offering innovative class activities in cooperation with businesses and science museums.
Lift Barriers
This objective aims to engage more girls and women in STEM with the support of mentors and role models.
- Launch Girls go STEM to attract more girls to STEM subjects by training 1 million girls and women by 2028 through different European initiatives to develop their technical skills.
- Launch STEM Futures to inspire students through STEM education success stories (for example, involving girls and women in STEM and organising a European STEM Week).
- Pilot a STEM Specialists Fellowship to attract top international STEM experts to EU higher education and research institutions.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed how Eastern European countries are investing in STEM education and research infrastructure. STEM education promotes the development of foundational competencies and transversal skills such as problem solving. This shortage affects all sectors, including transport, food, and energy, and hinders economic growth and innovation. The STEM Education Strategic Plan is a key initiative of the Union of Skills.
