STEMming An Adverse Tide
Rick Stephens, chair of AIA’s Workforce Steering Committee, testified before Congress on ways to improve the higher education system to increase the number of STEM graduates.
The early February hearing by the House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education focused on examining the current state of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in U.S. colleges and universities.
Testifying on behalf of AIA, Stephens outlined proposals for strengthening undergraduate and graduate education in the STEM fields to help students stay in these fields and gain work-ready skills. Among the proposals are encouraging and expanding retention programs for undergraduates, increasing the pool of well-qualified primary and secondary teachers in STEM disciplines and motivating pursuit of STEM careers through enhanced support of programs that provide hands-on experience.
 |
|
Rick Stephens, The Boeing Company |
In his testimony, Stephens also highlighted the challenges facing the U.S. defense industrial base as it seeks to replenish the workforce in the near future with thousands of engineers.
“These are becoming difficult jobs to fill, not because there is a labor shortage but because there is a skills shortage,” Stephens said. “Our industry needs more innovative young scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians to replace baby boomers as they retire.”
Stephens, Boeing’s senior vice president for human resources and administration, chairs the AIA Workforce Steering Committee, which is actively examining ways that the aerospace industry can strategically address STEM education, including coordination of STEM efforts within the industry and with other industries such as information technology and health.
AIA interview with Rick Stephens (mp3 format)
Written Testimony (pdf format)
AIA Source: daphne.dador[at]aia-aerospace.org
