Why STEM education will become a vital building block in a diversified economy

Why STEM education will become a vital building block in a diversified economy

Companies need to work with schools to educate their future employees about the range of opportunities that exist in STEM areas, says Swati Vats, Computer Engineer, Robert Bosch Middle East.

Skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are crucial with the rapid advances in the digital technologies and will be critical in the shift to a non-oil-based economy. In the future workplace, 41 percent more time will be spent on critical thinking and 77 percent more time will be spent using science and mathematics skills, according to a study by the British Council.

Achieving this will require an education approach that targets the grassroots, so there needs to be a more cohesive and concerted push by education institutions and future employers to promote STEM. A landmark step in this direction, the UAE government has issued guidelines for technical academies at colleges to support learners and establish programmes that allow people to keep pace with technological developments.

Today, most corporations are spending a bulk of their time in research and development and manufacturing products, but at the same time the focus should be to encourage the youth to have a similar vision and understand the impact of innovation on the future of the