The following was written by David Shanks, a communications instructor and DoD STEM Ambassador. DoD STEM Ambassadors work with the Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC) to advance STEM outreach for students who are underrepresented in STEM or military connected. Shanks was selected by REC Foundation, a DSEC partner, as its DoD STEM Ambassador for the 2022-2023 school year.

In today’s rapidly changing world, STEM education is considered critical for society’s growth and development. However, during our pursuit of scientific and technological advancements, we cannot overlook the importance of the humanities and 21st century skills. To ensure that we are developing well-rounded, innovative, and ethical STEM professionals, it is essential to integrate these areas into STEM education. In this blog post, we will explore how employers can encourage a more holistic approach to education.

The Importance of Humanities and 21st Century Skills in STEM

Humanities and 21st century skills are necessary to produce well-rounded STEM professionals. These skills include critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, innovation, and global and cultural awareness. Integrating these skills into STEM education can have several benefits.

First, critical thinking and problem-solving are essential skills for STEM professionals. By teaching these skills, students can approach problems from different angles and think creatively. Second, communication and collaboration are crucial for STEM professionals to work effectively with others and communicate complex ideas to a wide range of audiences.

Third, creativity and innovation inspire STEM professionals to come up with new and unique solutions to problems. In a world where innovation is key to success, these skills are essential. Fourth, global and cultural awareness helps STEM professionals understand the cultural and social context of their work and how their innovations may impact different communities around the world.

Finally, humanities encourage ethical thinking. Science and technology are not neutral, and their use can have unintended consequences. The humanities can provide a framework for understanding the ethical implications of scientific advancements and help STEM professionals make decisions that prioritize the well-being of individuals and society.

Concrete Actions to Take to Encourage a More Holistic Approach to Education

The DoD and industry employers play a significant role in shaping the education and training of their employees. To encourage a more holistic approach to education, the employers can take several concrete actions.

Recognize the Value of Humanities and 21st Century Skills: Employers can recognize the value of humanities and 21st century skills by actively seeking out employees with these skills. Employers can also create job descriptions that highlight the importance of these skills and make them a requirement for certain positions.

Foster a Culture of Learning: Employers can foster a culture of learning by encouraging employees to engage in lifelong learning. This can include providing opportunities for employees to learn new skills and supporting them in pursuing advanced degrees or certifications.

Partner with Educational Institutions: Employers can partner with educational institutions to develop programs that integrate humanities and 21st century skills into STEM education. This can include adding additional liberal arts and humanities courses to STEM curriculum, and creating internships and co-op programs that provide students with hands-on experience in STEM fields while also developing these skills.

One way to encourage a curriculum change in university STEM degree programs is by adding liberal arts and humanities requirements to STEM job descriptions. By requiring candidates to have a certain number of courses or an emphasis in the humanities, social sciences, or 21st century skills, employers can incentivize universities to incorporate these areas into their STEM degree programs. For example, when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) STEM Designated Degree Program List was modified to include fields within psychology, universities around the country modified their psychology programs to align with the new designation and potential funding opportunities. The same could apply to STEM programs if the DoD and industry employers add 21st century skills to STEM job requirements.

These requirements could also benefit the employers themselves. STEM professionals who possess critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, innovation, and global and cultural awareness skills can bring a unique perspective to their work, resulting in more innovative and effective solutions.

Moreover, requiring humanities and 21st-century skills can help diversify the STEM workforce, encouraging individuals from different backgrounds and with diverse perspectives to pursue STEM careers. This can lead to more inclusive and equitable innovation that benefits all members of society.

By including these requirements in job descriptions, employers can signal to universities that these skills are necessary for success in the workplace. As universities seek to prepare their students for the workforce, they may be more likely to incorporate these areas into their STEM degree programs, resulting in a more holistic and well-rounded education for their students.

In conclusion, to ensure that we are developing well-rounded, innovative, and ethical STEM professionals, it is essential to integrate humanities and 21st century skills into STEM education. By recognizing the value of these skills, fostering a culture of learning, and partnering with educational institutions, employers can play a significant role in encouraging a more holistic approach to education.

As we continue to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of technology and science, it is critical that we do not forget the importance of humanities, liberal arts, and 21st century skills. These skills are essential for producing innovative, ethical, and well-rounded STEM professionals who can effectively address the complex challenges facing our society.

Employers have a responsibility to support and encourage a more holistic approach to education, and by taking concrete actions, they can help shape the education and training of their future and current employees. By adding liberal arts and humanities requirements to STEM job descriptions, employers can encourage universities to incorporate these areas into their STEM degree programs. This can lead to a more diverse, innovative, and ethical STEM workforce that is better equipped to address the complex challenges facing our society.