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2014 STEM Educator AcademyOrganizers Partners
Overcoming the skills mismatch in
STEM: a view from young Europeans
TIRAPANI, Alessandro Niccol
Senior Researcher at ThinkYoung
September, 23rd 2014
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ThinkYoung: who are we?
Nonprofit think tank concerned with
young people! Our aim: bridging the gap between
young people and European decision
makers
2007: lack of young people represented
in EU institutions
2014: Brussels, Geneva, Hong Kong
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu
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ThinkYoung: what we do?
FIELDS OFACTION
Education
EU/ASIA
Entrepreneurship
Enlargement
Surveys
Researchesby Young
Europeans
Conferences
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu
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Skills Mismatch (SKM): an overview
SKM is defined as the gap between the skills demanded by the
and those possessed by employees
Today in Europe, despite the unemployment rate:
2 millions positions are unfulfilled (source: CEDEFOP)
36% of companies experience difficulties in hiring skilled employees (European
The European Union activated several programs to tackle the iss EU Skills Panorama
European Skills Passport
EURES
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu
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Lessons from 2012 study
ThinkYoung study in 2012: SKM isstrongly influence by cultural biases
and perceptions
21st Century skills, business skills and
the design of the work place are critical
issues for all the industries
What about innovation and STEM
skills?
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu
(McKinsey
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STEM skills
Central for innovation and advanced processes in high value-add
STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu
Qualitative Analysis
Quantitative Analysis
Computation
Data processing
Estimation
Mathematical
Laboratory
Monitoring
Experimental Design
Risk assessment
Analytic and modelling
methods
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ThinkYoung study
Online survey
2341 answers, Spring 2014
18-30 years old, EU plus EFTAcountries
Bachelor-educated or higher, STEM andnot STEM
Interviews
12 people HR in the private sector
Experts of the European Commission
Researchers and entrepreneurs
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu
Skills surveyed
21st Century skills
ICT and digital comp
STEM skills
Stigma around STEM
Mobility
Employment issues
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21st Century Skills
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu
Problem s
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ICT and digital competences
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu
Use of W
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STEM skills
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu
Experimenta
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Why STEM? Why not?
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu
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Employment issues
Work Experience
Mentorship
Transferable skills
Role of SMEs
Job descriptions and expectations
Clearer description for better match
Local advertisements
Recognition of qualificati
Informal education
Standardization of certific
Paid internships
Smaller pool of talents
Lack of motivation
Lack of learning
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu
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Did you know...?
Innovation is prevalent in female Romanian respondents from n
also female non-STEM graduates from Spain are the most comp
problem solving Male Greek and Belgian STEM graduates are the most proficien
Computation and Data processing skills are predominant in Be
British respondents
Experiment design and risk assessment scored the lowest in
STEM skills
According to experts, today there is no stigma surrounding ST
One in three young Europeans cite financial difficulties as hind
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu
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Main takeaways
STEM skills are not to be confused with 21st Century skills or ICT
Improve communication between employers, students and educa
Increase mobility
Funding
Cross-country job advertisement
When possible, set English as working language
Focus on experimental design and advanced softwares
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu
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Thank you!
Young Europeans are today
everything but a lost generation
Contacts:
@thinkyoungTWYoutube: ThyAudiovisualLab
TIRAPANI, A.N. - Follow us! @thinkyoungTW - www.thinkyoung.eu