The University of Texas at Austin today announced the launch of the National Center for STEM Education, a new initiative designed to address persistent STEM teacher shortages and improve STEM education across Texas and the United States.
The Center builds on three decades of work in UT Austin’s Colleges of Natural Sciences and Education to develop and implement the UTeach STEM teacher preparation model; UT’s UTeach Institute has expanded UTeach to more than 50 colleges and universities across the U.S. and implemented K–12 teacher professional learning and curricular supports. Each year, nearly 1 million U.S. students learn science, math or technology from a teacher leveraging the proven teacher preparation model that was developed at UT and is foundational for the new Center.
The evolution of the UTeach Institute into the National Center for STEM Education represents a move beyond individual initiatives to a broader, more connected approach to strengthening STEM teaching and learning. The Center’s launch comes at a time when rapid advances in science and technology, plus increasingly complex workforce needs, are changing the skills students will need for future study, work and civic life.
“High-quality STEM education is essential to the future of our economy, our communities, and our ability to remain globally competitive,” said James Álvarez, Associate Dean for P–20 Education Initiatives in UT’s College of Natural Sciences. “The National Center for STEM Education is designed to bring together the people, ideas and partnerships needed to ensure that more students have access to excellent STEM learning opportunities and pathways to high-opportunity careers.”
While opportunities across the U.S. STEM workforce continue to grow, the number of STEM-ready high school graduates has been dropping. Quality educators are key to remaking STEM learning and strengthening the future STEM workforce.
As the UTeach Institute evolves into the National Center for STEM Education, the national UTeach program expansion initiative remains a central activity and will continue at universities across the country, as will extensive P–12 in-service educator professional learning offerings. The Center’s scope of work will further expand to transform how students learn STEM and prepare them for the STEM careers of today and the future.
The Center’s work will focus on several key areas:
Strengthening STEM teacher recruitment, preparation and retention
Supporting current STEM educators through professional learning and leadership development
Drawing on the latest research into STEM teaching and learning to advance STEM teacher preparation.
Incorporating new developments from STEM disciplines into educator support, such as artificial intelligence, data analysis and visualization and quantum technologies.
Expanding career-connected learning experiences that help students understand and prepare for STEM pathways.
Conducting and translating research that informs policy and practice.
Building partnerships across education, industry, workforce and community organizations.
“This Center is needed right now to bridge the gaps between national STEM priorities, regional workforce needs, current teacher preparation approaches, and the changing context in K–12 schools in ways that modernize STEM teacher development and change how students experience STEM learning. The Center will be focused on implementing field-ready tools, programs, and technical assistance to build capacity nationwide to develop the STEM educator workforce for the future,” said Kimberly Hughes, Center Director.
Media Contact
Kimberly Hughes
Director, National Center for STEM Education
khughes@austin.utexas.edu