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»It will be our imagination, our
awareness and our sense of
responsibility that will enable us to
harness the opportunities of the 21st
century to shape the world for the
better«
Andreas Schleicher, researcher and education director at OECD
STEM and creativity
Skills that learners need for the
future
Young people are ready to take on social responsibility – we see this in the
protests, initiatives, and movements that have come to life around the world
through their actions. To address the serious and complex challenges of our
time, it is essential that basic literacy in science and technology is
supplemented by skills such as creative problem solving, teamwork, and
critical thinking. In pursuit of this goal, we have expanded our international
education work to include “STEM and creativity.” This shift encourages
innovative thinking and creativity in STEM lessons while also supporting young
people in taking the initiative to make conscientious contributions toward
shaping our future.
Teachers are the “change agents” of education, and we want to lend them our
support in our work.
© The Index Project/Siemens Stiftung, Photographer: Pernille Brun Andersen
You are here: Definition
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Definition
STEM education and creativity – how
is that a match?
In the future, how can we teach and learn in a way that prepares students for
complex challenges such as globalization, climate change, or digitalization? “STEM
and creativity” links science and technology subjects with creative processes. With
this program, we’re promoting a holistic education format that focuses on the
individual learning experience of young people. This includes working with our
partners on creating new teaching and learning methods. These methods are meant
to encourage students to seek interdisciplinary, creative ways to solve problems,
and to support them in seeking innovative ideas and alternative approaches for
addressing complex issues.
Motivation
Which skills will be taught?
Siemens Stiftung contributes to sustainable societal development in all of its work.
We want to provide young people with the skills and experience they need to
innovatively and effectively shape the future for themselves and their communities.
Schools are tasked with teaching knowledge, skills, behaviors, and values so the
individual gifts and characteristics of each student can emerge. High-quality STEM
education is a basic requirement for understanding complex relationships. Before
they can address the key challenges of our future, students need strong
communication skills, the ability to innovative, creative thinking, and social and
emotional competence. These are known as “21st Century Skills” and include skills,
abilities, and learning concepts that have been identified by education institutions
and influential political, business, and academic figures as important preparation for
life in the 21st century.
Focus
Design thinking as an innovative
method for teaching and learning
In our “Design Thinking in STEM” project, we work with The Index Project on
methods that can be used to solve complex problems with STEM education and
creative processes. A key element to this approach is the creative method of design
thinking. The method comes from the traditional design discipline with its focuses
on the wants and needs of people. Students are encouraged to seek solutions by
taking on the point of view of a person who is actually facing a problem. Potential
solutions are tested and evaluated early on in interdisciplinary teams. Teachers have
an important role to play when it comes to implementing innovation at schools and
in education systems. This calls on their own creativity and represents an essential
part of addressing the much greater challenge confronting education.
Design Thinking in STEM
International
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Our global engagement for creativity
For years, we’ve supported efforts around the world to link creative approaches
in
STEM lessons
with STEM education. In Latin America, we support the development of STEAM
Territories. These efforts are geared toward bringing about a shift in Latin American
education through regional alliances while developing comprehensive, futureoriented concepts. We also work with the STEAM Foundation in South Africa, an
organization that implements our education program Experimento and prepares
children for the future with practical scientific lessons.
An ode to creativity
In a changing world, why is creativity needed more than ever? Project
manager Christine Niewöhner explains in a blog post for The Index
Project.
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Links
Would you like to learn more?
Websites
OECD Education 2030
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Pursuing the SDGs through Design Thinking – A report from three South African schools
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Downloads
A. Schleicher: World Class: How to Build a 21st-Century School System (2019)
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Vincent-Lancrin, S. et al. (2019): Fostering Students' Creativity and Critical Thinking: What it Means in
School 
Social Media
Video: Design Thinking in South Africa
Video: Design Thinking in Chile
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