STEM is a central preoccupation of policy makers across the world. In many countries discussion about STEM is advanced in terms of claims about shortages of high skill labour. However, the consultants’ reports make it clear that nowhere
are there conditions of general shortage. Though in many countries there are episodic shortages
in particular fields, such as engineering and computing in Australia, in reality the STEM economic policy agenda is largely driven by the need to lift the general quality of the supply of human capital as well as enlarge the high-skill group capable in research, commercialisable innovation and effective response to technological change. STEM qualifications – in general science
in all countries, and in engineering in some countries – prepare graduates for a broad range