Let's Talk Solutions: Published response
Published name
Questions
What solutions will increase diversity and inclusion in STEM?
A place-based system thinking approach is needed, to allow students and teachers in the STEM industry to understand the interconnection of functioning systems in one place, either in their workplace or school. How you can integrate this approach into the current practice and curriculum, is the key to including diversity.
How can efforts to increase diversity and inclusion in STEM be better and have more impact in future?
The problem with STEM is not within STEM, but embedded within the Western education system where individualised learning and specialisations are embraced. In other words, diversity has never been the key to STEM, and the latter inclusion wouldn't have a systemic impact if diversity is included in a way that only touches on the parameters of the education system (eg. increasing numbers of people from different backgrounds). As for the example given to engaging First Nations Businesses into the STEM industry, if the existing actors in this industry, is not able to understand the purpose and connections of the inclusion with themselves by zooming out into an interrelated world, there's no sustainable impact for this inclusion.
What would you like to come out of this Review?
STEM to find its place in the Western education system, but without being the dominating barrier preventing integration of diversity. Realising the power and impact of STEM in encouraging individualised and specialised areas of study, work, and practice. Sustainable inclusion of diversity into any industry requires one to acknowledge their failure in nature. Possible changes in curriculum to encourage system thinking from secondary school students, at least, would be a way forward to influence mindset change in the purpose of education beyond employability, thus nurturing a generation that has the ability to adapt to future challenges for themselves, the industry and the world.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
A team proposal on designing a new curriculum fostering placed based system thinking approach to sustainable education has been attached. We are a team of Master's students studying environments and sustainability at Monash and this has been a university assignment from our unit in 'Innovation to influence system change'. The 6-page proposal includes discussions on how it works with the theory of change and how it fits into the education system in the City of Monash, plus a business case at the end briefly evaluating its cost and benefits. We are hoping, the ideas and thoughts discussed in this proposal are useful for diversifying the education industry with a rather holistic perspective.
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