STEM Policy Strategic Reform Priorities

In reply to Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (3 August 2016). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy): The reform priorities follow-on from the National School Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Strategy, for which the Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) is the lead. This strategy identifies five areas for action:

Increasing student STEM ability, engagement, participation and aspiration

Increasing teacher capacity and STEM teaching quality

Supporting STEM education opportunities within school systems

Facilitating effective partnerships with tertiary education providers, business and industry

Building a strong evidence base.

DECD is currently working on the implementation of STEM initiatives that address the national strategy with support from the Department of State Development (DSD).

DSD is taking the lead on engagement with local universities that deliver initial teacher education. This work has led to a pilot project involving STEM student teachers from the University of South Australia and Flinders University partnering with local STEM-based companies to identify how STEM skills are utilised in the workplace. The student teachers work to develop STEM learning resources for school students based on the real-world context they have experienced with companies. Subject to the success of these pilots, the universities will look to embed industry engagement as a core requirement for teaching students.