STEM Competences for Students' Academic and Professional Development: A Systematic Literature Review

Victoria Segura Peña L.; Mary Lozada Flores R.; Isabel Rueda Ñopo M.; Teresa Ráez Martínez H.; Andrés Gutiérrez G. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2026) · DOI: 10.18687/laccei2026.1.1.2521

Resumen

Technological advancements and the resulting gaps across various disciplines have been widening. In this context, STEM education has become indispensable due to its connection with the development of skills such as creativity, innovation, and science, generating a significant impact on society and the economy. Therefore, a literature review was conducted, specifically a literature review article (LRI), analyzing how selected studies explore the importance of STEM from various perspectives. Firstly, the review examines its educational focus on developing skills for quality education (SDG 4), and secondly, its impact on the job market and the future of new professions in this field. The PICO methodology was used to formulate relevant research questions. A total of 161 articles were identified and rigorously selected using PRISMA, resulting in a corpus of 35 articles. The main findings highlight the gender gap, lack of motivation, and the disconnect between academic offerings and labor market demand. The research concludes that STEM education promotes diverse skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking among other skills necessary to effectively integrate into the globalized economy, proposing innovative and sustainable solutions.

Instituciones: Universidad Tecnológica del Perú