Growing Global STEM Learning in Higher Education

Introduction

If nations are to be productive and progressive economies in the future, a workforce of graduates with global perspectives, cultural understandings and connections is critical. Graduates who have benefited from integrated cross-cultural learning and teaching can introduce new perspectives within their own organisations and, based upon their educational experiences, develop professional connections between their country and the rest of the world. For tomorrow’s graduates, innovative use of global knowledge, universal work-readiness skills, and advanced multicultural understandings will enable them to take their place in solving future domestic and global problems. Universities face compelling challenges in educating these graduates of the future. This is critically evident in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines, where global trends increasingly focus upon the need for cross-disciplinary, industry-related, culturally sensitive approaches that maximise opportunities for future employment and lifelong learning.

However at the tertiary level, STEM teaching remains, for the most part, discipline and culturally entrenched. The STEM curricula within Australian universities, is mostly anchored in domestic teaching, with students focussed upon discipline-based learning. This is in spite of the cultural mix of the student cohort, where approximately one in five tertiary students studying in Australia is an international student (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012).

As with most developed countries, the richness of this student body that assembles on Australian university campuses (both on and off-shore; virtual and physical) provides a cohort that reflects global education patterns. Of the Australian campus cohort, almost half a million are overseas students (internationals) studying in Australia, representing 193 countries (Australian Government, Department of Education, 2016). Inbound international students made up almost 24% of the total student population in Australian universities (Australian Government, Department of Education, 2016). This is a significant proportion of the student population studying in Australia at any one time and an untapped source of potential global learning knowledge, cultural skills and global networking opportunities. International students in return make a significant contribution to Australian society, diversifying and enriching communities, and strengthening Australia’s global networks. The decision to study in Australia also offers many benefits to international students, allowing them to gain a high quality, internationally recognised education, as well as the opportunity to experience life in Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012).

In addition, the presence of international students offers increased educational income. Currently Australia’s international education activities generate close to $18 billion of export income annually and this revenue supports more than 100,000 jobs (Australian Government, Department of Education and Training, 2015). Australian academic staff, researchers and students gain many benefits from the contributions made by international students and their global perspectives. The value of the international education industry alone indicates the relevance of building upon connections made through education to create sustainable longer term advantages. This is especially applicable in STEM disciplines, where innovative developments are economically prohibitive and reliance upon global breakthroughs in research and application is paramount.