1. Understand the relevance of STEM studies for students and society. 
2. Understand the importance of STEM career in the job market. 
3. Understand the importance of integrating STEM career guidance in lessons, curriculum and what are the benefits for students.

1. Some argue that employers’ problems in filling vacancies are related to the fact that young graduates are not prepared for the skills currently on demand.  
2.  Others believe the skills gap in the labour market is caused by structural economic shifts. These shifts have made the skills of individuals insufficient or irrelevant for the demands of the current markets. 

1. Awareness (students are aware and know the variety of STEM careers available),
2. Relevance (they see the connection between the subject they are studying and day to day life),
3. Engagement (students show direct interest and motivation to interact with the subject matter),
4. Self-efficacy (students are comfortable with using tools of science). 

1. Incorporate both formal and informal approaches: constantly bring career awareness in your activities and do not keep it as a separate unit.
2. Help students see scientists as real people: students may have difficulty imagining themselves as scientists because they cannot see that scientists have a normal life, just like them. They have hobbies, families and various interests. 
3. Connect the dots: it is not enough to just expose students to career information, the teacher also has to directly connect career information with whatever the student is learning at that moment. This can refer to making clear connections to the real-life use of subjects, to giving examples of how it connects to jobs of scientists. The student will not be always capable of making these connections themselves, and you will have to do that for him. 
4. Embed reflection: To make sure that information sticks with students, and embeds reflection to drive a deeper understanding. Otherwise, a lot of the information can be lost over time if reflection is not used to “glue” it. 

1. Understand which are the currently relevant STEM industries and what is the spectrum of jobs available in each of them. 
2. Explore and learn about different career pathways available to reach those careers.  
   
   

European Parliament  Committees 

about STEM

1. An easy way to identify them is by linking STEM skills to qualifications attained in STEM subjects. For instance, Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Biology or Physics are easily classified as core STEM skills.  
2. Another way of defining STEM skills is by linking them to STEM occupations. For instance, this study identified 30 STEM occupations (concerning those that most utilize STEM skills). 

• Kahoot is a free game-based learning platform that helps educators create a collection of questions on specific topics while creating a game-like learning environment. Through this platform, you can create quizzes, discussion and surveys about any topic of your choice.
• Classflow is cloud-based platform that allows teachers to create interactive lessons in a single place, while (at the same time) pulling in resources from anywhere.
• PhET simulations are free, interactive, research-based science and mathematics simulations.  These are written in Java, Flash or HTML5, and can be run online or downloaded from any computer. PhET is designed to encourage scientific inquiry and to provide interactivity among students.

1. Incorporate both formal and informal approaches: constantly bring career awareness in your activities and do not keep it as a separate unit.
2. Help students see scientists as real people: students may have difficulty imagining themselves as scientists because they cannot see that scientists have a normal life, just like them. They have hobbies, families and various interests. 
3. Connect the dots: it is not enough to just expose students to career information, the teacher also has to directly connect career information with whatever the student is learning at that moment. This can refer to making clear connections to the real-life use of subjects, to giving examples of how it connects to jobs of scientists. The student will not be always capable of making these connections themselves, and you will have to do that for him. 
4. Embed reflection: To make sure that information sticks with students, embed reflection to drive a deeper understanding. Otherwise, a lot of the information can be lost over time if reflection is not used to “glue” it.  

1. Utilize career materials in science texts/journals/articles: consult these sources and extract/incorporate articles or supplemental readings in your lessons.​​​​​​
2. Integrate experiential activities in the classroom: role-playing or designing research posters.
3. Incorporate authentic research: give students the opportunity to participate in real research projects.​​​​​​​
4. Invite guest speakers: ask speakers from a variety of careers to talk to your students, to present their educational and career pathway. Invite also parents engaged in STEM fields to speak.​​​​​​​#
5. Research science careers / map out career paths: assign homework where students have to research various careers, support students in building resumes or to analyze their skills.​​​​​​​
6. Support inclusion of science careers in school career fairs.​​​​​​​
7. Weave career information informally into lessons: try to frame or open your lessons with career information, or as you work throughout a particular chapter or unit, make sure you point out career aspects where relevant.​​​​​​​
8. Share personal experiences: share your own experience of working in STEM fields, participate in professional development opportunities and share also your own educational and career pathway.​​​​​​​
9. Expose students to worksites and outside opportunities: take students on visits to various STEM centers (companies, research centers, etc.), prepare them before, seek funding and see how you can bridge the education-industry gap for your students.​​​​​​​
10. Be a mentor/advocate.