Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) underpins much of the world we live in today. Despite there being a demand for STEM graduates, many people may overlook the importance of STEM education or may just find the subjects uninteresting/too sophisticated.

Nevertheless, the importance of these disciplines should not be left unnoticed. Much of the advancement we see in our societies today owe a debt of gratitude to STEM graduates and of course, the academic establishments and the teachers who teach STEM subjects.

Of the many reasons that you should consider taking on a course in STEM, one is that your work can be very valuable to society. Another is that there will likely be a market for STEM graduates for as long as human beings inhabit our planet and wondering how to get an accounting internship may just consume as much effort as making it big in the fields of STEM.

According to this source, there are only about 16% of college graduates who graduate in a subject or industry field of STEM, while in 2018, there will be about 1.2 million job vacancies in the fields of STEM. Considering how organizations and companies operating in STEM seem to consistently come up with revolutionary innovations, these figures are quite appalling.

So why does there seem to be a shortage of STEM graduates? One reason may simply be boredom. When students find it difficult to follow up with lessons in the fields of STEM, they may get disengaged from the subjects. Support and encouragement outside the classroom is important.

Educational institutions and educators should consistently encourage their students and help shed a positive light on the benefits of learning STEM.

To help students in the fields of STEM become more engaged, we should possibly begin thinking about alternative approaches. They may not be getting into it with the right mindset and attitude. They may also be under some wrong impressions when it comes to STEM subjects. Through a long list of maybes; one thing is for sure. We need more STEM graduates. We need them to fill the roles of the current STEM employees when they get older and retire and we do not have much hope of surviving as a species without skilled STEM people.

Another thing that seems to put some students off STEM is that it can be very, very challenging. However, for the students whose minds are suitable to the ways in which STEM works, it can just be a matter of staying motivated and being encouraged to keep striving and to always keep learning and trying to be better than they were yesterday. Challenges can also be a way for these students to develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

STEM students should also understand that learning does not necessarily have to mean forcing textbooks into their brains. There are so many ways to learn and more entertaining/creative ways to approach the learning experience. They could take a look at how educational games and other online resources may suit the ways in which they learn.