Capacity Building for Training Technical Specialists through STEAM Education: A Review of the Research

Abstract

The present study demonstrated that STEAM education practices appear to include methods for developing critical and creative thinking, professional communication and collaboration skills, and integrating various fields of knowledge. Study also reports the findings of the research project on training engineers through STEAM education conducted at Kazakhstan’s Saginov Technical University (‘STU’) and funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AR09260338). One of the most important disciplines that contributes to the development of important competencies in STEAM teachers is digital literacy; this discipline is focused on the formation of students’ competencies in the field of digital consumption, the use of digital technologies, and digital security. The system of engineering higher education in Kazakhstan continues to have weaknesses in the areas of intercultural communication and teamwork, the development of critical thinking, and using the creative process to solve professional tasks. The problem appears to be overcome in part by STEAM education. It was possible to create several STEAM approaches for cutting-edge engineering education by conducting an extensive study of the global experience and developing strategies for integrating STEAM into the educational process at Kazakhstani universities based on multifactor SWOT analysis.