Implementing the STEM Approach in Formal Education and the STEM-UPD Project

Abstract

The article examines the necessity of implementing the STEM approach and the practical challenges of introducing it in formal education, based on a comparative analysis of international experience and the realities of Georgia. International practice shows that integrated STEM instruction strengthens students’ critical thinking, research, and engineering skills; supports learning grounded in real-world contexts; and ensures the preparation of qualified personnel for the labor market. In Georgia, STEM activities are mainly carried out in non-formal education, which results in the participation of only a small portion of students.

In response to these challenges, the STEM-UPD project was implemented through a partnership between Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University and Akaki Tsereteli State University. The aim of the project is to embed the STEM approach into the curriculum, provide professional development for teachers, establish a network of STEM laboratories, and introduce practical STEM learning in formal education. Within the framework of the project, new university-level STEM courses were developed, approximately 160 in-service and pre-service teachers were trained through a 30-hour module, and 22 pilot schools were equipped with STEAM kits and laboratories.

The planned and implemented STEM scenarios, methodological frameworks, and the practice of “STEM Days” significantly facilitated the integration of interdisciplinary, project-based learning into the instructional process. The STEAM kits (“Ecoengineering,” “Animascope,” “Nototron,” “Neuroengineering,” and “Weather Station”) support the practical application of theoretical knowledge, the development of multidisciplinary skills, and a strong alignment with the objectives of the national curriculum.

The article shows that the successful implementation of the STEM approach requires continuous professional support for teachers, a stronger role for universities, and systemic changes at the school level. The STEM-UPD project represents an important step toward institutionalizing STEM education in Georgia.