Innovation and Entrepreneurship as Economic Change Agents: The Role of STEM Education in Australia

Resumo

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are considered by most western countries as the key areas for ensuring economic prosperity into the future. The recent establishment in Australia of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS) along with a new National Innovation and Science Agenda indicate that political goodwill and policy is aligned to create and drive innovation and entrepreneurship. So what is the role of STEM education in this emerging directive? In our view, STEM education is pivotal in ensuring that our future thinkers are responsive and adaptable to emerging opportunities and challenges. Yet, an analysis of government policy highlights a fairly traditional view regarding the role of STEM education in supporting the broader ideas around innovation and entrepreneurship. This theoretical position paper interrogates emerging Australian policy to explore how the role of STEM education is conceived in these new government directives.