Measuring STEM in Vocational Education and Training

Overview & Synopsis

The concept of "STEM" (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) has influenced many education and workforce strategies and policies with the intention of improving innovation, productivity and international competitiveness. Generally, the focus has been on how the school and university sectors can help equip the workforce with the STEM-related skills and knowledge considered necessary for the changing economy (see Siekmann and Korbel 2016). This paper explores ways to measure how the vocational education and training (VET) sector is contributing to the development of STEM-related skills. Better measurement of STEM in VET can help to identify supply and demand for education and training, assess (and improve) outcomes and efficiency, direct funding and resources, and properly inform students' choices. [For the companion paper, "What Is STEM? The Need for Unpacking Its Definitions and Applications," see ED570651.]