Promoting STEM education in schools
Published in May 2026, this publication is part of a broader study on promoting STEM education in schools. It examines EU policy initiatives and programmes over the past decade, covering pre-primary, primary, secondary and initial vocational education and training (IVET). The scope is broad, covering individual STEM disciplines as well as integrated approaches, including STEAM (STEM combined with arts and creativity).
Key EU funding instruments are analysed for their contribution to STEM education, including Erasmus+, Horizon Europe and the European Structural and Investment Funds, alongside a range of wider European initiatives.
The report identifies persistent gaps in monitoring, cross-level transitions and the translation of EU project outcomes into national policies. To address these, it calls for
- clearer STEM definitions
- a possible EU competence framework
- stronger long-term evaluation mechanisms to support evidence-based decision-making.
Read the full report: Promoting STEM education in schools
Languages available: English
Additional information
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Evidence:N/A
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Funding source:European Commission
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Intervention level:N/A
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Intervention intensity:N/A
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Published by:European Commission's Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture
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Target audience:TeacherStudent teacherSchool leaderTeacher educatorOther (non school staff)
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Education levels:Early childhood, Primary, Lower secondary, Upper secondary - School education, Post-secondary non-tertiary
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Year of publication:2026