Consultant Report Securing Australia’s Future STEM: Country Comparisons

Most reports speak (at least) of the shortage of STEM professionals, the need to engage students at all levels in science to boost the supply of STEM workers, the need for innovative curricula, low student motivation, improved science assessment, teachers: their quality, motivation and up-to- datedness, and the gender imbalances within schools and other levels of education and in the workforce. [...] Although the number of graduates in all fields of study for Germany increased by 8.0 per cent, the increase in the number of science and engineering graduates declined by 0.3 per cent, indicating a reduction in the overall proportion of science and engineering graduates. [...] The report (A Renewal of science education in Europe: Views and Actions of National Academies26) details the views and actions taken by European National Academies to advance the renewal of science education and maintain the passion for science and technology among the young, typically drawing on the support of leading scientists from the science academies. [...] The report comments on the common features of responses from academies, including ‘the pervasive lack of interest, among pupils, in S&T; followed by a serious decrease of the number of students in sciences, mathematics and engineering; the hazard of society’s declining scientific literacy; and of a lack of the necessary scientific skills among the available workforce’ (ALLEA, 2012b). [...] They also consider the disinclination of the young to undertake STEM education and careers, the failure to engage youth interest, the misleading image of STEM careers and the gender disparity.