A framework for building teacher capacity and student engagement in STEM within school-university partnerships

Students living outside metropolitan areas are under-represented in university student populations compared to their metropolitan counterparts, which often leads to a lack of skilled professionals to contribute to regional economies. These shortages are particularly apparent in the STEM disciplines. This project will develop and model programs that work with schools to improve student participation in higher education. The project's specific focus is on teaching capacity in science and mathematics within regional secondary schools and on regional students' achievement in and aspirations for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, particularly mathematics and science. It aims to develop a framework to guide the design and evaluation of school-university partnership programs that target capacity, achievement and aspiration building in STEM. Effective programs in mathematics and science and region-specific contexts will inform future investment by universities, science schools and faculties in programs as student demand for STEM related courses expands throughout regional Australia.