STEM strategy for education and training: third annual report

What Next?

This report demonstrates how committed individuals in education settings alongside a wide range of organisations supporting STEM education and training in Scotland have adapted their programmes and delivery methodology to the new realities presented by COVID-19 over the past year.

In the first and second reports of the STEM Strategy, a strong supporting evidence base had been developed in order to measure and challenge progress against a set of Key Performance Indicators that had been established in 2018. This year, demonstrating progress against a strong and compelling set of data sources has not been possible. However, we are able to offer up-to-date information on apprenticeships, teacher numbers, school-based qualifications, STEM applications to Higher Education Institutions and a range of data on performance of specific projects and programmes, mainly concerned with school education and public science engagement.

In recognition of the current lack of data and the fact that some STEM-related support programmes have been unable to progress, it is necessary to consider reporting on progress against the Strategy Key Performance Indicators later in 2021. Therefore, should the situation in relation to COVID-19 restrictions ease to the extent that a series of meaningful STEM datasets can be fully developed, a stand-alone STEM Strategy: Key Performance Indicators data report will be published before the end of October 2021.

In the meantime, Scottish Government STEM policy and direction will continue to reflect the four key aims of the STEM Strategy and respond to the challenges and opportunities outlined in this report for the benefit of all those involved in STEM education and training in Scotland.