STEAM Education - An Effective Approach to Achieving Sustainability in Higher Education

Abstract

The present study represents a scientific foray, aimed at elucidating the role and indisputable contribution of STEAM skills in higher education, skills that are extremely necessary for educational actors in the era of postmodern education. The aim of the research is identification of the implementation directions of STEAM education applied in higher education institutions. In the preparation of this paper, we used qualitative research, content analysis of the reports of higher education institutions in the EU that allowed us to analyze the practices they use in the cultivation and foundation of STEAM skills. In addition to this, the Global Innovation Index repot and the Human Capital index were analyzed, which allowed us to elucidate the main challenges that the Republic of Moldova faces in capitalizing on human potential, in the generation and implementation of innovations. In conclusion, we can mention that universities, currently, must remodel their management system, adapt their curricula, in order to base new skills - STEAM skills, which help higher education institutions to focus on a new education - STEAM education, a digitized education, focused on the integration of innovation in the didactic activity, on national-regional-international cooperation in order to train competitive young people on the labour market, young people with a culture of innovation, young people who will contribute to the promotion of sustainability at the society level.