STEM Education Initiatives

Ten years of NIRF data as analysed by KPMG India now offers a rare longitudinal view of how Indian higher educational institutions are performing. Keeping aside the integrity issues, this is indeed a positive trend for higher education. The next ten years can be transformative, if the government is willing to make some bold reforms in higher education. ▪️ Participation in NIRF grew from 2,426 institutions in 2016 to 7,692 in 2025. The college category alone expanded from 803 to 4,030 institutions. Law and medical categories saw triple-digit growth. ▪️ PhD-qualified faculty in engineering institutions increased from 28 percent in 2017 to 48 percent in 2025. Top-ranked institutions now report over 73 percent PhD faculty across most categories. Management institutes exceed 90 percent. ▪️ PhD student enrolments in universities rose from 97,947 in 2019 to 118,556 in 2025. Completions increased from 16,403 to 24,481 in the same period. Institutions ranked 76 to 100 showed the fastest growth in enrolments, while top-ranked institutions led in completions. ▪️ Research publications increased by 150 percent in engineering and universities. Pharmacy and management categories recorded a 300 percent rise. India’s share of global publications moved from 3.5 percent in 2017 to 5.2 percent in 2024. ▪️ Patent filings by educational institutions tripled between 2022 and 2024. India is now among the top six countries globally in patent activity. ▪️ Median salaries of graduating students across institutions nearly doubled over five years. This reflects improved graduate outcomes and stronger employer confidence. ▪️ In the QS World University Rankings 2026, India is the fourth most represented country with 54 institutions. This is a fivefold increase since 2015.

Children are natural-born scientists, constantly observing, questioning, and experimenting with the world around them. But how do we harness this innate curiosity to foster real cognitive development? The answer lies in visual experiments—powerful learning tools that go far beyond textbooks. When kids see an experiment unfold before their eyes, it transforms abstract concepts into tangible experiences, strengthening their ability to think critically, solve problems, and develop logical reasoning. Unlike passive learning, visual experiments engage multiple senses, reinforcing memory retention and deepening understanding. They stimulate both the left and right hemispheres of the brain, encouraging creative thinking alongside analytical skills. Moreover, these hands-on experiences cultivate perseverance—when an experiment doesn’t work, children learn to analyze, tweak, and try again, instilling resilience and a growth mindset. Studies consistently highlight that children who engage in visual learning activities show significantly higher retention rates, enhanced comprehension, and a stronger interest in STEM subjects. From a simple baking soda volcano to mesmerizing magnetic field patterns, these experiments act as stepping stones, helping young minds grasp complex scientific principles effortlessly. The impact doesn’t stop at intelligence—collaborative experiments promote teamwork, communication, and confidence, essential life skills for the future. As educators and parents, integrating visual experiments into a child’s learning journey isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity. By making science come alive, we’re not only shaping smarter thinkers but also inspiring the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders who will drive the future of technology, medicine, and engineering. Feel free to share your thoughts 💭 #whatinspiresme

💡 What if every lesson felt like an adventure, not a chore? Let’s be honest: unforgettable learning doesn’t happen with boring lectures or endless notes. It happens when students feel excited, curious, and emotionally connected. 🔥 Here’s how to make learning stick—and spark real transformation in the classroom: 1️⃣ Light the curiosity fire first 🔥 Don’t dump facts. Start with a question so intriguing they can’t look away. When curiosity leads, engagement follows. 2️⃣ Make it a full-sensory experience 🎧👀🖐️ Learning isn’t just mental—it’s physical. Get them seeing, touching, hearing, and doing. The more senses involved, the deeper the retention. 3️⃣ Show, don’t tell 🧪 Skip the theory dump. Demonstrate it. Let them experiment, explore, mess up—and learn through doing. Discovery beats instruction. 4️⃣ Tap into emotion 💥 Stories. Surprise. Laughter. Relevance. When students feel something, they remember it. Emotion = memory glue. 5️⃣ Be the guide, not the guru 🧭 You’re not there to give all the answers. You’re there to open doors, ask great questions, and empower them to find the answers themselves. 🎯 Truth bomb: The best classrooms aren’t quiet—they’re buzzing with energy, ideas, and wide eyes. Learning isn’t about memorizing—it’s about experiencing. Let’s stop teaching for the test and start teaching for life. Who’s ready to make education magical again? #UnforgettableLearning #ModernTeaching #STEMEducation #LearningThatSticks #CreativeTeaching #StudentEngagement #EdTech #ExperientialLearning #FutureOfEducation #TeachingReimagined #India #Kawal #EducationReform #PassionForTeaching #21stCenturySkills #TeachingTips

I'm delighted to share the STEM Competency Framework for Teacher Development, which emerged from my doctoral research and the design and implementation of the Build Your STEM Competency Open Educational Resource (OER) course for teachers. Over the years, I have been driven by a simple question: 'How do we move beyond teaching STEM as a collection of subjects and instead develop educators who can nurture problem-solvers, innovators, and responsible global citizens? The answer lies in building teacher competencies progressively through four interconnected dimensions: 🔹 Knowledge Building Teachers strengthen disciplinary understanding, pedagogical practices, and STEM literacy to build a strong foundation for meaningful learning. 🔹 Skill Building Educators develop systems thinking, design thinking, digital and data fluency, critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving agility. They learn to connect concepts across disciplines and guide students in tackling authentic challenges through inquiry and innovation. 🔹 Attitude Building The heart of transformative education lies in mindset. Curiosity, growth mindset, collaboration, equity, inclusion, ethical responsibility, confidence, agency, and open-mindedness enable teachers to continuously learn, adapt, and inspire. 🔹 Relevance We often speak about rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and the growing impact of climate change. Yet the real question is: how many of us are actively contributing to solutions? Are we planting trees, reducing our environmental footprint, supporting conservation efforts, or partnering with communities and environmental organizations to create sustainable change? What gives me hope is the next generation. Through STEM education, I have witnessed students move beyond awareness to action. My students have designed and developed projects that address local environmental challenges, ranging from waste management and water conservation to renewable energy and biodiversity preservation. This is why relevance sits at the pinnacle of the STEM Competency Framework. What excites me most today is that this framework has moved beyond research and into practice. As education systems worldwide grapple with how to prepare learners for an uncertain future, I believe we must invest not only in technology, curriculum, and assessments but also in developing teachers as #designers of learning, facilitators of inquiry, and agents of change. I look forward to engaging with educators, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners who are working towards similar goals of transforming education through competency-based learning. #STEMEducation #TeacherDevelopment #FutureReadyEducation #STEAM #CompetencyBasedEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment #EducationalLeadership #TeacherTraining #InnovationInEducation #SystemsThinking #DesignThinking #EducationResearch #TribalEducation #SustainableDevelopmentGoals #STEMForAll

Young College Grads Are Struggling — Especially in One Corner of the Labor Market In earlier posts, I showed that young college graduates are facing an unusually weak labor market relative to their own history. But that weakness is not evenly spread across fields. This chart breaks BA-only workers ages 22–34 into four broad occupational groups and tracks each group's unemployment rate as a percentile of its own 2003–2026 history, using a 24-month moving average to smooth monthly noise. That framing matters. It does not show which group has the highest unemployment rate in absolute terms. It shows which group is doing badly relative to its own normal. A reading of 76 means unemployment is higher than it has been in 76% of months since 2003. And one group stands out. STEM is at the 76th percentile — clearly weaker than the others. "All Other" occupations are at the 61st percentile. Management is at the 50th. Health, Education, and Social Services is at the 51st. The pain is especially concentrated in STEM. The likely driver is coding. Not because every STEM occupation is struggling equally. But because software, data, and adjacent digital roles absorbed the biggest post-boom correction — and they are also the part of the entry-level labor market where AI is most likely to reduce demand for junior workers first. Fewer entry-level openings. Slower backfilling. Higher hiring bars. More work done by smaller teams. The contrast with the other groups matters. Young workers already in management roles are a selected group. Reaching management by your late 20s or early 30s usually signals stronger career progression to begin with. And Health, Education, and Social Services operates in a very different labor market — less tied to the tech cycle, less exposed to AI substitution, and more dependent on human, regulated, or institutionally staffed work. One more point: 50th percentile may sound "normal," but in an economy where the overall unemployment rate is still historically low, normal is not especially impressive. Young college grads in professional fields would usually be expected to look better than average in a labor market like this. #AI #labormarkets #STEM #careers #futureofwork #recruitment #tech

A new report from Brookings reveals a hidden crisis: while elite universities are making progress on gender gaps in STEM, the rest of the system is going backwards — especially in physics, engineering, and computer science (PECS). Here’s what you need to know 👇 🔍 The Hidden Gender Gap 💎 At top-tier universities, the gender gap in PECS majors has narrowed over the last two decades. 💎 But at less selective institutions (which educate a majority of underrepresented students), it’s worsening: 💎 In 2002, there were ~3.5 men for every woman in PECS. 💎 By 2022, that ratio more than doubled to 7.1 to 1. 📉 Why This Matters 💎 These are the institutions where most women of color, low-income students, and first-gen college students are being educated. 💎 These fields are linked to the highest earning potential in STEM — meaning the gap has serious economic consequences. 💥 It’s Not Just About Talent or Interest 💎 The growing divide isn’t explained by math ability or preparation alone. 💎 Cultural and institutional barriers — like lack of support, mentorship, and community — are playing a major role. 🔧 What Needs to Change 💎 Shift funding, support, and innovation to the schools where the gap is growing fastest. 💎 Focus on belonging, mentorship, and undergraduate research — interventions that work. 💎 Rethink how we measure “progress” — if equity only improves at the top, we’re failing the majority. 📢 Bottom Line We can’t claim victory in STEM gender equity while ignoring the widening gaps in the places where most women are studying. 🔗 Read the full Brookings report: https://lnkd.in/ec-x7eDK #WomenInSTEM #STEMeducation #GirlsInSTEM #STEMGems #GiveGirlsRoleModels

There is a fundamental shift in learner and learning expectations with recognized credentials at the heart of the change. In my recent Engineering the Future Workforce podcast conversation with Jessica Silwick, CPA, MBA, CAE, COO of ABET, we explored how quality-assured credentials are creating new pathways into STEM careers while maintaining rigorous standards. Jessica emphasized aligning learning outcomes with industry needs and involving stakeholders in the design process to ensure credentials deliver real value and impact. Learners want their efforts in microcredentials to be fully recognized, integrated with their program of study and credit bearing. A recent article by Adil Husain titled “The Quiet Credential Takeover”, discusses the strong student demand for credit-bearing microcredentials. It notes 94% of students want microcredentials to count toward their degrees (up from 55%). That demand pushes engineering education to become more flexible, accessible and responsive to industry needs. This will open doors for talent through stackable, bite-sized learning opportunities. As Jessica noted, “the traditional one size fits all degree model is giving way to more flexible pathways that reflect how people actually learn and work.” Credentials allow learners to "create a trajectory for themselves, their families, and their communities" - especially those who may not fit the traditional education model. At Siemens Digital Industries Software, we're proud to partner with ABET to help shape these new standards. Together, we're working to ensure that whether through degrees or credentials, learners gain qualifications that are trusted by employers and recognized globally. The future demands both technical excellence and essential professional skills. Through thoughtful assessment and continuous improvement, we can cultivate adaptable, lifelong learners while addressing evolving workforce needs. See the comments for the related blog with links to our full conversation. Let me know what else you're learning about learning shifts.

Imagine asking children to explore their playground or back garden. They begin by asking themselves: what creatures should live here? Then, without disturbing the environment, they quietly observe what creatures are actually present. Once they have noted their findings, they are given a mission: can we create the right conditions for the missing species to return? Could we provide food, water, shelter, or other essential needs to encourage its presence? This simple process invites children into systems thinking, design thinking, STEM and STEAM learning, observation, planning, determination, and critical thinking. All of these emerge naturally because the learning sequence is scaffolded around a real problem that the child identifies, explores, and attempts to solve. There is the possibility of failure, but also the joy of success when butterflies, frogs, or birds begin to return. There are no marks, grades, rankings, or competition. Instead, the motivation comes from within. Children learn to value the feeling that arises when their efforts contribute to making the world a better place. You can do all of this and more at - Upschool.co #education #teacher #school #montessori

Most people think the lesson starts when the teacher begins to talk. It doesn't. It starts the moment curiosity walks into the room. A learner stood before a simple cardboard display. On one side, Conductors. On the other, Insulators. Then came the real magic. Instead of asking students to memorize definitions, he connected a battery, a bulb, a buzzer, and wires. One by one, different materials were tested. Aluminum. A safety pin. A screw. Plastic. Wood. Paper. An eraser. A pencil. The bulb either lit up or stayed dark. No long lecture. No pressure to cram. Just discovery. In that moment, science stopped being a chapter in a textbook. It became an experience. And experiences stay longer than explanations. This is the kind of learning Africa needs more of. Learning that invites questions instead of silence. Learning that encourages learners to predict before they are told the answer. Learning that replaces "Because the teacher said so" with "I saw it happen." When students touch, test, observe, fail, laugh, and try again, they are not only learning science. They are building curiosity, confidence, critical thinking, and problem solving. The future will not reward those who only remember facts. It will reward those who know how to investigate, experiment, and think. At EdSkills Africa, we believe every classroom can become a laboratory of ideas, even with simple, affordable materials. Because the brightest minds are not switched on by electricity alone. They are switched on by meaningful learning experiences. What practical classroom activity has stayed with you long after you left school? Share it in the comments. Let's inspire more teachers to make learning unforgettable. #EdSkillsAfrica #ExperientialLearning #STEMEducation #TeacherInnovation #FutureReadyLearners

A new review of 826 AI-in-STEM-education studies has just been published. The biggest gap it identifies is the field’s underinvestment in ethics & equity. Researchers from the State University of Milagro in Ecuador analysed 826 peer-reviewed articles on AI in STEM education between 2016 and 2025. They mapped the field’s growth from 4 publications in 2016 to 176 by 2025, identified five dominant research clusters, and tracked the technology shift across them: VR and AR at 44.4% of the literature, machine learning and deep learning at 35.5%, generative LLMs at 20.1%. The methodological gaps they name are: geographical asymmetry, limited longitudinal studies, and insufficient integration of ethical and equity frameworks. A field that has grown forty-fold in a decade has under-developed its own ethics work in the same window. The authors describe the wider shift as a "transition from knowledge transmission toward knowledge co-construction mediated by intelligent systems." Two researchers at a Global South university doing the slow work of mapping where the field is undercooked. Read it if you are deploying AI in STEM teaching in any sector. Link to paper: https://lnkd.in/dvuZbBRQ #AIinEducation #STEMEducation #HigherEducation #ResearchIntegrity #AIEthics #CriticalAILiteracy #DigitalEquity