STEM education
A global imperative for national advancement and sustainable development
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/691y6h68Abstract
STEM education is crucial for nations aiming to develop knowledge-based economies and enhance global competitiveness. To effectively leverage 21st-century technological advancements, safeguard national security, and address global challenges such as climate change and food insecurity, a significant improvement in the quality of STEM education policies and practices is essential. Successful implementation requires a thorough understanding of STEM’s core principles, philosophical foundations, practical applications, and relevant policy frameworks. This critique paper examines the status of key strengths and weakness of the diverse STEM education policies and practices implemented across developed nations. It intends to address the global knowledge and awareness deficit and improve understanding, about the importance of strategically investing in high-quality STEM education, particularly among developing countries.
References
Badmus, O. T., & Jita, L. C. (2023). Investigation of factors influencing career choice among STEM undergraduates in Nigeria universities. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 19(1), em2221. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/12838 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/12838
Carter, L. (2017). Neoliberalism and STEM education: Some Australian policy discourse. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 17(4), 247-257. https://doi.org/10.1080/14926156.2017.1380868 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14926156.2017.1380868
Chesky, N. Z., & Wolfmeyer, M. R. (2015). Philosophy of STEM education: A critical investigation. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137535467.0008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137535467
Chiu, T. K., & Li, Y. (2023). How Can Emerging Technologies Impact STEM Education?. Journal for STEM Education Research, 6(3), 375-384. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41979-023-00113-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41979-023-00113-w
Costello, R. A., Salehi, S., Ballen, C. J., & Burkholder, E. (2023). Pathways of opportunity in STEM: comparative investigation of degree attainment across different demographic groups at a large research institution. International Journal of STEM Education, 10(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00436-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00436-5
DeCoito, I., Steele, A., & Goodnough, K. (2016). Introduction to the special issue on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 16(2), 109-113. http://doi.org/10.1080/14926156.2016.1166298 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14926156.2016.1166298
Dong, Y., Wang, J., Yang, Y., & Kurup, P. M. (2020). Understanding intrinsic challenges to STEM instructional practices for Chinese teachers based on their beliefs and knowledge base. International Journal of STEM Education, 7, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-00245-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-00245-0
English, L. D. (2016). STEM education K-12: Perspectives on integration. International Journal of STEM education, 3, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-016-0036-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-016-0036-1
Fomunyam, K. G. (Ed.). (2020). Theorizing STEM education in the 21st century. BoD–Books on Demand. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.77870 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.77870
Ho, T. E., & Pang, V. (2023, May). The Preliminary Study of an Integrated STEM Education with Design Thinking Module for Preschoolers. In 4th International Conference on Progressive Education 2022 (ICOPE 2022) (pp. 503-515). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-060-2_47 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-060-2_47
Johnson, C. C., Mohr-Schroeder, M. J., Moore, T. J., & English, L. D. (Eds.). (2020). Handbook of research on STEM education (p. 526). London, UK: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429021381
Johnson, C. C., Moore, T. J., & Peters-Burton, E. E. (2021). STEM Road Map 2.0. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003034902
Kelley, T. R., & Knowles, J. G. (2016). A conceptual framework for integrated STEM education. International Journal of STEM education, 3, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-016-0046-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-016-0046-z
Krug, D., & Shaw, A. (2016). Reconceptualizing st® e (a) m (s) education for teacher education. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 16, 183-200. https://doi.org/10.1080/14926156.2016.1166295 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14926156.2016.1166295
Kwon, H., Capraro, R. M., & Capraro, M. M. (2021). When I believe, I can: Success STEMs from my perceptions. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 21(1), 67-85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42330-020-00132-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42330-020-00132-4
Lee, Y. F., & Lee, L. S. (2022). Status and Trends of STEM Education in Highly Competitive Countries: Country Reports and International Comparison.
Leung, A. (2020). Boundary crossing pedagogy in STEM education. International Journal of STEM Education, 7(1), 15. http://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-00212-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-00212-9
Li, H., Forbes, A., & Yang, W. (2021). Developing culturally and developmentally appropriate early STEM learning experiences. Early Education and Development, 32(1), 1-6. http://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2020.1833674 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2020.1833674
Li, Y. (2014). International Journal of STEM Education-a platform to promote STEM education and research worldwide. International Journal of STEM Education, 1(1), 1-2. https://doi:10.1186/2196-7822-1-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2196-7822-1-1
Melak, A., & Singh, S. (2021). Women’s participation and factors affecting their academic performance in engineering and technology education: A study of Ethiopia. Sustainability, 13(4), 2246. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042246 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042246
Miao, Y. (2023). The Practice of STEM Education in Higher Education Context: China and USA. International Journal of New Developments in Education, 5(22). DOI: 10.25236/IJNDE.2023.052204 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25236/IJNDE.2023.052204
Mpofu, V. (2020). A theoretical framework for implementing STEM education. Theorizing STEM education in the 21st century, 1-15. http://doi.org/10.1126/science.1201783 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88304
Putra, P. D. A., & Narulita, E. (2023, January). Teacher professional knowledge: The implementation of STEM pedagogical content knowledge in pandemic era. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 2679, No. 1). AIP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0111357 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0111357
Shanahan, M. C., Carol-Ann Burke, L. E., & Francis, K. (2016). Using a boundary object perspective to reconsider the meaning of STEM in a Canadian context. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 16, 129-139. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14926156.2016.1166296 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14926156.2016.1166296
Suhirman, S., & Prayogi, S. (2023). Overcoming challenges in STEM education: A literature review that leads to effective pedagogy in STEM learning. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(8), 432-443. http://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v9i8.4715 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v9i8.4715
Vasquez, J., Sneider, C., & Comer, M. (2013). STEM Lesson Essentials-Integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, Grades 3-8. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Wahono, B., Hariyadi, S., & Subiantoro, A. W. (2022). The development of an online STEM teacher professional development package with the DECODE model: An innovative teacher’s quality maintenance. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 18(12), em2191. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/12647 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/12647
Additional Files
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 American Journal of STEM Education

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) [year] [author]
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Call for Special Issue Proposals 






