STEM education is all the rage these days. From schools to enrichment providers, everyone seems to be jumping on the STEM bandwagon with programs to entice students, even as young as preschool age, to embrace STEM. While STEM has always featured in our education system, it has never quite been in the spotlight until recent times. So why is STEM so hot these days?
But first, what is STEM?
In Singapore, STEM education is an interdisciplinary and applied learning approach to educating students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Instead of teaching these as four separate subjects, STEM education integrates them into a cohesive learning model that’s based on real-world applications.
Why is there so much attention on STEM these days, and is it really that important?
If you haven’t realised it already, STEM is the lifeblood of the world’s economy, the driver of progress for mankind, the arc reactor that powers Ironman … you get it. Everything that we know of is backed by STEM – such as modern-day conveniences like telecommunications and transportation, and even basic necessities like food and clean water.
And STEM is set to play an even more significant role as we progress into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which as its name implies, is the fourth major industrial era since the First Industrial Revolution of the 18th century.
In the same way that the First Industrial Revolution radically changed how goods were manufactured with water and steam power, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is set to fundamentally change the way we live, work and relate to one another. Characterised by the fusion of cyber and physical systems by emerging technologies that will impact disciplines, economies and industries, the Fourth Industrial Revolution will bring about wide-spread transformation and disruption.
We already see this happening – AI assistants on our gadgets help us to manage our lives; homes and cities are getting smarter; and in the foreseeable future, autonomous vehicles will ply our roads.
What this means is that as countries, industries and jobs get transformed by technology, traditional work will be replaced by higher skilled jobs that will require some expertise in STEM. As it is, there is a huge shortage of STEM skills globally and in Singapore, and the demand for STEM skills is only going to grow.
According to 2017 data from the United States government, employment in STEM occupations in the U.S. grew much faster than employment in non-STEM occupations over the last decade. STEM occupations are also projected to grow by 8.9% from 2014 to 2024, compared to 6.4% growth for non-STEM occupations.
But STEM jobs aren’t cool … are they?
If you think that a career in STEM means being stuck in a laboratory all day or writing line after line of code, think again because the opportunities in STEM today have expanded beyond traditional STEM jobs.
Take the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry as an example. EMS companies help original equipment manufacturer (OEM) companies design, manufacture, test and distribute electronic components and products. Traditionally regarded as low-skilled businesses, EMS companies today are innovation-driven, digitised businesses at the forefront of technology.
Global EMS companies such as Jabil work with OEMs to manufacture and distribute a diverse range of consumer and enterprise products from their plants all over the world. It’s not surprising then that Jabil employs highly-skilled STEM talents in domains such as additive manufacturing, precision engineering, automation, data analytics, to name a few.
The lines between OEM and EMS companies have blurred in the last decade. Many successful electronics OEMs have gone factoryless as they focus on developing new technologies and depend on their EMS partners to keep up with manufacturing processes and skills. Gradually, OEMs will concentrate on providing concepts and branding to products, handing over product design, manufacturing and distribution to EMS companies.
So, for those who want to have a hand in shaping the products of the future, a career in the EMS industry might just be your thing.
Alright, so how do I get started?
Knowing which aspect of STEM you are passionate about can help you figure out a path to your dream job. You can start off with basic online research to find out about the industry, but it always helps to speak to someone in the field to get real insights into the nature of the work and the opportunities available. Keep an eye out for career fairs and talks and speak to company representatives to understand more about the company and industry.
Garnering skills in your area of interest is sure to build not only your domain knowledge but also your portfolio which will help you progress to your dream job. If the digital world and Artificial Intelligence make you buzz, you can join related workshops or interest groups to network with industry practitioners and even pick up a skill or two.
Securing internships at companies relevant to your dream job is also something to consider. Even if you are offered an opportunity that’s not top of your desired list, know that there’s always something to learn from internships. Plus, it could be a journey of discovery to where your real interest lies. Many companies use internships as a way to evaluate interns’ potential for permanent employment, so maintain a good work attitude and seize the opportunity to learn and contribute. Remember that an open mind and positive attitude will open opportunities.
The future of STEM is full of possibilities. With the sector’s continuous growth coupled with Singapore’s drive to be a Smart Nation, there’s never been a better time to pursue a career in STEM.
Article by Jabil
