BHEF U.S. STEM Education Model
The Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) is leading a groundbreaking STEM Education & Modeling Project to help increase the number of students who pursue majors and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the disciplines collectively known as STEM. The project builds on a system dynamics model of the U.S. STEM education system developed by the Raytheon Company – the BHEF U.S. STEM Education Model – and gifted to BHEF in July 2009 (click here to see video of the model release). The model, which is free and available in open source for use by the public, is being managed by a partnership among BHEF, Raytheon and The Ohio State University’s Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy.
The goals of the project are to:
- Provide an organized and comprehensive approach to viewing and understanding the complex, multi-level nature of the U.S. and STEM education system.
- Identify potential solutions that strengthen U.S. STEM education and workforce outcomes.
- Differentiate among the most effective alternatives for investing in STEM education.
The U.S. STEM Education Model is the first simulation model to examine the U.S. education system using system dynamics principles and tools. The model allows users to simulate various scenarios to determine whether they have the potential to increase the number of students choosing to major and graduate in STEM disciplines. The model uses census data and standardized test scores to track the flow of students through the K-16 education system and into careers in STEM teaching or STEM industries. Many factors affect the number of students who ultimately pursue STEM careers. The model attempts to capture these factors through a series of dynamic hypotheses and feedback loops that together determine the behavior of the system.
For more information about the project, or to download the model, visit www.STEMnetwork.org.
Video from STEM Education Model Release
Part 1
BHEF STEM Model Launch Part 1: July 8, 2009
Part 2
» August 13, 2010
President Obama Signs Spending Bill to Protect Teachers’ Jobs. BHEF applauds passage of the Education Jobs Bill.
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» August 11, 2010
Business-Higher Education Forum Statement on the Survival of BHEF Member and EADS North America CEO Sean O’Keefe
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» August 10, 2010
President Obama Cites Need to Restore U.S. Leadership in Higher Education; Names Three BHEF Member-Led Universities for Cost-Controlling Efforts. Calls on all college and university presidents to follow their example.
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» June 24-25, 2010
BHEF welcomed its members to Washington, DC for its summer meeting on June 24-25, 2010. Members heard from senior representatives of the Obama Administration on challenges and opportunities for education reform in upcoming reauthorization efforts and the challenges confronting long-term U.S. sustainability that demand strengthened STEM education.