STEM Education: Definition, Importance & Popular Courses

STEM education is gaining annual attention for its high-paying jobs and rigorous course curricula. In this article, we have explained what STEM education is, popular STEM courses and the benefits of pursuing STEM fields for those who wish to study abroad soon.

So, what is STEM? In layman's terms, STEM is an increasingly popular course option considered by those with a Science background from high school. Popularity and competition for STEM course admission abroad go hand in hand. Admissions are tougher for international students applying for STEM courses abroad. After graduating with STEM courses, applicants can choose various career options with lucrative salaries. Check out this article for all the details on STEM, including its meaning, eligibility requirements, popular course options, and career opportunities. 

STEM Education Meaning & Full Form

STEM's full form is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. STEM education broadly offers education in these areas, theoretically and practically. The STEM's abbreviation was announced by the National Science Foundation (NSF) - the scientific administrators in the USA in 2001.

• The STEM education curriculum combines course modules with internships, along with semester-wise mandatory assignments (including lab work), which help students apply theoretical knowledge in practice.
• STEM-related vocational training is being introduced at the K-12 level in many schools worldwide.
• Science enthusiasts without prior experience in such a learning environment may gain this knowledge through higher education, specifically at the bachelor's and master's levels.

Applicants interested in STEM training can shortlist courses and top universities accordingly. 

What Does STEM Education Curriculum Include?

Aspects covered in the STEM education curriculum are vast, helping applicants hone their skills through STEM education for better opportunities thereafter. STEM training course has a few key features whicha are as follows:

1. Interdisciplinary Learning Style in STEM

Here, applicants learn how to solve challenging problems by integrating all four areas of STEM, namely Science, Engineering, Technology, and Management. Applicants must correlate each area and devise a solution to address the problem. 

2. Hands-On Learning

While applicants are enrolled in STEM learning, they must primarily undertake either research work or practical work experience in conjunction with their STEM course enrollment. These hands-on experiences help applicants learn practical know-how and apply the techniques they have learned.

3. Applying Knowledge in Real World Challenges

This is a key aspect of STEM education where applicants learn how to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. These also include tackling problems through a well-devised strategy, utilising all four areas of the STEM training. 

4. Skills Applicants Develop After Completing STEM Learning

Students who undergo STEM education develop a set of skills as follows:

In other words, STEM education is an experience-based learning approach that incorporates rigorous technical group projects, helping professionals develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in any technical field.

Importance of STEM Education Training

75% of the total jobs in STEM industrial sectors require qualified graduates at present. Thus, being a STEM graduate would always give one an edge over thousands of job applicants abroad, owing to this demand for qualifications that will continue to increase in the near future. Below is a look at how STEM education became important over the years:

1. STEM education fosters innovations comprising critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity which are very crucial for technological advancement with time.
2. STEM fields, in general, are among the fastest-growing sectors in the global labour market, offering the highest salaries. Career opportunities following STEM education prepare students for these careers so that they acquire suitable skills and an understanding.
3. Some countries in the world famous for STEM education include the USA, Germany, the UK, Canada, Australia, France, and Italy, among others.
4. The problem-solving approach is taught by STEM, which in turn, increases the levels of innovation.

In particular, STEM Education System or a STEM Course helps an aspiring Scientist, Technologist, Engineer, or Mathematician to realize his dreams on better platforms with greater recognitions.

Benefits of STEM Education

With greater overall exposure, STEM graduates are likely to enjoy more benefits than those from any other field of study. International universities offer a multicultural environment in which practising a discipline becomes more enjoyable and fruitful. Ranging from fun learning to amazing job opportunities, let’s discuss a few of the benefits of STEM education in countries abroad:

• Increased length of stay on a post-study work visa, especially in the USA. There is a STEM OPT extension available for individuals who graduate with a STEM degree from a U.S. university. 
• Higher chances of immigration to countries abroad like - USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and Germany. 
• Better job and business opportunities in the USA and Germany. Many of the highest-paid jobs in the world are offered in these countries. 

Popular Countries for STEM Education

Some of the most popular courses that students eagerly pursue. For the benefit of our readers, we have listed below some of the best countries for STEM education, along with the top universities based there:

Top 10 STEM Courses Abroad

Here is a list of popular STEM courses offered abroad to Indian applicants:

1. Computer Science & AI
2. Data Science & Analytics
3. Robotics Engineering
4. Biomedical Engineering
5. Cybersecurity
6. STEM MBA
7. Bioinformatics
8. Aerospace Engineering
9. Human-Computer Interaction
10. Computational Finance

These are some of the popular STEM courses offered to international students abroad. Most of them are engineering courses, and they are also among the highest-paying engineering branches in the world. 

Global Popularity and Competition in STEM Education

STEM is highly popular in the international education system, particularly given that 75% of jobs require STEM graduates. As such, the influential universities offer a variety of courses in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. However, on a global scale, it has been observed that most students do not continue to pursue their interest in science as they grow. With changes in the global economic and business environment, new courses such as STEM MBA in USA are gaining significant traction.

Many students switch their interest from pursuing science to commerce and Humanities after completing high school. Surprisingly, over 50% of Science students change their domain after twelfth grade. This greatly reduces the competition of STEM applicants at the bachelor’s level alone.

Eligibility for Pursuing STEM Courses Abroad

The basic eligibility to pursue STEM courses abroad requires one to take the mandatory standardised tests, such as the GRE/GMAT for master’s courses and the SAT for bachelor’s courses. You also need to pass the English language tests. Check out which exam to take: IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE Academic.

Additionally, you should have a basic qualification in the exact field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics that you aspire to pursue at a higher level. Your previous course curriculum should have exposed you to the domain you aspire to study.

If you have already finalised a course or a country and seek guidance with the university shortlisting or the application process, you may connect with our education counsellors here. Our experts are trained to help Indian aspirants with the entire application process, from profile evaluation to visa filing. They would assist you in realising your dream of flying to your study destination with their effective free-of-cost counselling services.

STEM Careers

After pursuing STEM courses, numerous opportunities will open up for international students. STEM courses are gaining popularity and bringing returns. Check out the popular STEM career options for international students after graduation in the table below:

These are some of the most popular STEM career options that can be pursued after graduation or post-graduation abroad.

Top 15 Paying Jobs for STEM Degree Holders

Check out which are some of the highest paid jobs for STEM graduates in the table below:

Based on the salaries above, it can be concluded that there is a wide scope for STEM graduates.

STEAM Education

STEAM Education is considered the successor of STEM Education, wherein we can witness the convergence of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics with Arts. STEAM education inspires creativity, curiosity, and personal expression in technical fields. The addition of Arts in STEM subjects gives it a human touch. For instance, when we discuss data analytics, the art side requires data protection, data privacy, and the individual's rights over their own data. As time passes, we will witness the impact of STEAM education and how much of it leaks into academia.

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