STEM in development: Technical knowledge must meet critical thinking

While economics and statistics might not conjure the traditional vision of global development work, both – along with technology, science and engineering – are receiving increased attention as a critical aspect not only of development work, but of filling crucial roles in the workforce and spurring innovation. “We’re seeing a need for more economic skills as they relate to more nontraditional areas,” said Arvil Gonzalez, an energy and environmental management and recruitment specialist for Engility. Environmental economics and the ability to calculate the current existence value of a forest as well as its value a few years into the future can provide a greater incentive for conservation, for example. With so much talk in the private sector of an increase in STEM – science, technology, education and mathematics – educated individuals helping to fill a “skills gap” and a call for a steady flow of talent for new innovation, the question is how these applications to improve quality of life and information will play into global development. Advances in technology, especially information technology, will continue to disrupt societies in the coming years. And these developments are redefining jobs as well as talent of the future, according to panelists from “Talent Mobility & the Future of Jobs” summit in Washington, D.C. held a few weeks ago, where those present also discussed the growing gap between the needs of the economy and the output of education systems. The key to STEM-educated individuals’ success in development work is the combination of a successful education with practical application and critical thinking skills. And the success of STEM stands and falls by the quality of education, Jerrold Keilson, vice president of Creative Associates International’s education division, told Devex. “In my opinion, science and math education without critical thinking skills is one-dimensional and won’t result in innovation,” he said. “If you don’t know how to think through problems, you’re not going to be prepared for the workplace.” People often don’t possess both skills in tech as well as skills in program development, said Asch Harwood, polio innovation lead for UNICEF based in New York. What development increasingly needs is people who understand program design and who understand working in these kinds of contexts, he added. “Before you launch a program, you want to develop something you can test – a prototype. It’s even better if you can build that proof of concept yourself,” Harwood said. An engineer can understand perfectly how something works, but the same absolute rules in engineering can’t and never really will apply in the context of a developing country, or the “wonderful, fascinating and frustrating dynamics that people don’t usually imagine,” Gonzalez said, which harkens to STEM-supporters calling for a heavier focus on critical thinking skills from the start. In a nod to the idea that the STEM talent pipeline starts in pre-K, the common core state standards adopted by the majority of states in the U.S., although controversial, now better emphasize analytic skills over memorization, Cecelia Beirne, an independent consultant and math educator who regularly travels to Cambodia to teach money management, told Devex. Academies around the world have led inquiry-based science education initiatives in partnership with organizations like the U.S.-Mexican Foundation for Science, the Smithsonian Institution and a number of multinational corporations. And last year, The Rockefeller Foundation decided it could use technology to address the “tinder box of young people who were under or unemployed,” Eme Essien Lore, associate director in the Africa regional office, told Devex. Research into untapped employment sectors showed that jobs in the digital economy could provide young people with a whole suite of skills, from problem solving to conflict management. So where does STEM currently translate into jobs in development? Several professionals who commented for Devex on 2014 hiring trends cited an increased need for IT, web and multimedia expertise across the board to ensure communication of activities and policy reforms. And over the next 10 years, monitoring and evaluation will remain a huge role for expats as local organizations recognize the importance and need for it, but might not know how to use survey tools or analyze data, noted Kathryn Erskine, senior talent acquisition manager for Creative Associates. WASH, health, economic growth and trade sectors heavily depend on training in STEM, noted one LinkedIn discussion participant. The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific recently emphasised the need for significant investments in statistical capacity building – especially among developing countries — during the release of the ESCAP Statistical Yearbook for Asia and Pacific 2013. Many developing nations lack timely, relevant data to back goals, the report stated. These skills can be helpful for climate change programs, Gonzalez noted, such as calculating a cost/benefit analysis of using different fuel types. The main focus of the large Power Africa initiative is on transactions, so the RFP is calling for transaction advisors. As the conception of what international development is evolves and continues to engage the private sector, there is an increased need for people to prove financial incentives, he said. Those with monitoring and evaluation skills who are also well-versed in social sciences, with regards to gender, anthropology or sociology, also end up being in demand. “We want people who can run the calculations but who are very familiar with what they are calculating,” Gonzalez said. Another LinkedIn participant noted that despite his background in science and math education, he currently finds few opportunities in the development sector, citing that donors seem to focus more on good governance and infrastructure. It’s true a lot of larger energy projects, for example, also look at governance, Gonzalez said. It’s important to look at larger issues such as tariffs, regulations and trading and selling power across different sectors. Those working with energy distribution companies in Pakistan, for example, will end up working to build local capacity on a policy level in regards to governance. But there’s always a tech level too. It’s everything from helping energy regulators to also assisting in installing and performing meter regulation. Some of the larger contractors might not have the strongest tech background, so they end up partnering with engineering firms or statistics or modeling firms, Gonzalez said. What other job types in development rely on STEM education? And what other initiatives are seeking to improve or bolster STEM education? Please leave your comments below.