STEM-focused curricula aim to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to compete in a global economy across the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math, as well as subspecialties such as statistics, biology, psychology, economics, agriculture and aeronautics. STEAM, their merits, and their application in the professional sphere. “Programmers and engineers are increasingly teamed up with artists to co-develop software, products, renderings and more.”Īs a result, education professionals have developed the acronym STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math), leading many to assess STEM vs. Gordon, Ph.D., an associate professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Central Florida. “Proficiency in the arts will be particularly important to engineers and computer scientists in emerging industries, such as themed experiences, gaming, and simulation and training,” explains Ali P. The roles within STEM fields have changed and are calling for more well-rounded professionals with backgrounds and skills tied not only to technical studies but also to the arts. This demand for soft skills has led to the creation of new curricula to help prepare those aspiring to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce. Having a strong set of soft skills helps employees become more versatile and can open up more opportunities for growth in today’s job market.

The National Bureau of Economic Research found that the prevalence of automation has created a growing demand for workers with social skills. However, there remain certain soft skills a computer simply cannot replicate in the workplace: teamwork, cooperation, creativity and adaptation to change, to name a few. Gartner predicts 80 percent of project management tasks (e.g., data collection, tracking and reporting) will be the job of AI by 2030. Not only is it taking over repetitive tasks through automation, but it is becoming more human-like than ever. Technology is driving transformation and innovation in industries such as healthcare, retail and finance.

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