Revitalizing Graduate STEM Education for the 21st Century

In this project, the Board on Higher Education and Workforce of the National Academies of Science and Engineering, and Medicine will study trends in and needs for graduate-level education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the United States. The National Academies will appoint a 15-member study committee to lead the project, drawn from diverse stakeholders in STEM disciplines and employment sectors. The study committee will conduct several activities, including

• Conducting an overall systems analysis of graduate education in the natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences, with the aim of identifying policies, programs, and practices that can better meet the changing education and career needs of an increasingly diverse population of STEM graduate students over the next two decades.
• Identifying core principles and strategies to align graduate education with current, future, and emerging career pathways in STEM.
• Assessing whether and how graduate education is meeting the needs of a diverse pool of potential students from U.S. born populations that have been historically underrepresented in STEM as well as foreign students enrolled in U.S. institutions.
• Identifying changes that might be made within state and federal programs, funding priorities, and structures to better reflect the research and training needs of current and future graduate students.
• Proposing a clear set of national goals for graduate education in the STEM disciplines that can be used by universities, Congress, federal agencies, state governments, and business to guide the enhancement of graduate level programs and investments in the years ahead.

In addition to releasing a final report for the public, the study committee will conduct a series of symposia or regional meetings to facilitate discussions among various stakeholder communities about the committee's findings and recommendations.

IES is one of several funders supporting the study. Other funders include the National Science Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.