Citation :

Benjamin, Jonathan, 2025. "STEM and Sustainability: Preparing the Next Generation for Green Economies" International Journal of Community Empowerment & Society Administration [IJCESA]  Volume 2, Issue 4: 1-10.

Abstract :

It is increasingly recognized that incorporating sustainability concepts into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education is critical i preparing the next generation to lead/and/or actively participate in the transition to green economies. Education must change to provide the knowledge, values and problem-solving capabilities needed for sustainable development as civilizations worldwide encounter unprecedented environmental, social and economic challenges. This paper provides an insight into how STEM education can support students' creativity and foster green capability, and also increase the environmental awareness when appropriately linked to sustainability objectives. Drawing from policy analyses, academic literature and international examples, the paper highlights the potential role of education in reaching the SDGs. The research identifies several key advantages of a STEM education with an emphasis upon sustainability. By integrating ecological literacy and systems thinking into courses, it effectively builds sustainability by giving students a capacity to understand and address issues like energy use, loss of biodiversity, climate change, sustainable resource use. Secondly, it nurtures green skills – soft and technical alike – that are instrumental in the labour markets of tomorrow, in particular in eco-innovation, sustainable urban development, circular economy principles and renewables. Such skills would include critical thinking, collaboration, digital literacy and cross-disciplinary problem solving. Third, by engaging students in experiential projects promoting inquiry, real-world problem-solving and real-world problem interaction, STEM provides an environment where innovation can flourish students are able to work with existing sustainability problems and develop novel solutions.International perspectives indicate that interdisciplinary methodologies are required for the effective incorporation of sustainability in STEM education. For example there was the provision in higher and vocational education to educate young adults for green jobs, by linking technical training with a focus on sustainable skill formation in German universities. There are also efforts elsewhere in Asia and Africa that demonstrate how it project-based and rooted in communtiy needs, contributes to enhancing local practices of sustainability and support for student learning. In particular, by fostering collaboration among students, faculty members, policymakers and businesses, higher education institutions are fast becoming breeding grounds for sustainable innovation. What’s more, incorporating concepts from the circular economy into STEM education has shown promise in promoting "Circular Citizenship," which empowers students to become active participants in reducing waste and saving resources. Despite all this there are several challenges. Hampering efforts to develop new curricula is a lack of will on the part of faculty (the move sometimes feels threatening) and administrative inertia in existing accreditation frameworks that often privilege traditional silos of discipline over inter-disciplinary environmental sustainability themes. A second vital issue is teacher preparedness; teachers may lack confidence and skills to incorporate sustainability within their curriculum without targeted professional development. Finally, the scalability of such initiatives is limited by systemic barriers such as weak industry-education partnerships, a scarcity of funding and weak policy support. Findings from this study suggest that sustainability in science and engineering education is not only an educational imperative, but also a social necessity if we are to build sustainable, equitable and innovative green economies. Strategic shifts, comprehensive teacher training, cross-sector collaboration and continued investment into innovation for education are all needed to achieve this. STEM education could play a major role in shaping a more sustainable future by raising environmentally aware citizens and providing them with the skills necessary to succeed in green economies.

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Keywords :

STEM education; sustainability education; green economy; sustainable development goals (SDGs); ecological literacy; circular economy; green skills; environmental awareness; curriculum innovation; teacher training; transdisciplinary learning; higher education; education for sustainable development (ESD); systems thinking; experiential learning; policy and collaboration; innovation and problem-solving; sustainable workforce; climate change education; sustainable pedagogy.