About the Centre

STEM Education Research Centre (STEMERC)

BACKGROUND

Globally, countries that have achieved socioeconomic success have done so due to high levels of performance by their students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. STEM education prepares students to be scientifically and technically literate members of society’s workforce. STEM education also equips the students with 21^st-century skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, decision making, leadership, collaboration, and entrepreneurship. Educating the youth in STEM education has a significant impact on the nation’s economy and social well-being.

Bhutan, known internationally for its Gross National Happiness (GNH) philosophy, has been working hard to promote STEM education in school and university educational programs. Education, as one of the GNH’s nine domains, is critical to the policy’s success, particularly in STEM subjects, as the quality of mathematics and science education is critical in building human capital, particularly in Bhutan, where science and technology are still in their infancy.

As a premier institution in the country for training secondary STEM subject teachers, Samtse College of Education (SCE) has undertaken numerous initiatives in collaboration with other stakeholders to bring about reforms in science and math education. To name a few, STEM faculty members have helped design and write science, mathematics, and ICT curricula, as well as train Science Laboratory assistants and introduce Master’s programs in Science and Mathematics Education. Further, the college felt it necessary to establish a STEM education research center to support school communities. To address concerns and issues in STEM education, the College’s STEM Education Research Center (STEM-ERC) will conduct research in STEM education, organize scholarly discourses such as seminars and conferences, assist in the modification of STEM curricula, design STEM teaching-learning materials, and offer professional development courses for STEM teachers.