STEM programs account for only 1 in 5 degrees among Limburgers in higher education
While the Limburg labor market is in dire need of scientifically and technically trained professionals, STEM education is hardly gaining popularity. On the contrary, the proportion of students in secondary education enrolled in a STEM track has even declined in recent years in both Limburg and Flanders. Similarly, the number of STEM graduates in higher education remains limited. Approximately one in five (20.4%) Limburg students graduates with a degree in a STEM field. An ambitious approach is urgently needed.
POM Limburg delved into the figures from the STEM monitor recently published by Education Flanders. In the 2023-2024 school year, the Flemish education administration recorded 39,240 Limburg students in the 2nd and 3rd grades of secondary education. About 14,500 of them were enrolled in a STEM study program, focusing on science, engineering, technology, or mathematics. This represents a proportion of 36.9%—slightly above the Flemish average of 36.4%. However, both percentages remain far below the Flemish target of 40.25% by the 2030-2031 school year. Deputy for Economy and Chair of POM Limburg Tom Vandeput comments: “Even more concerning is that this is the third consecutive year of decline, meaning STEM is becoming less popular in secondary education, while the demand for technical talent on the labor market continues to rise.”
Technical Secondary Education (TSO) Shows Decline
The form of secondary education with the relatively lowest number of STEM students is the ‘dual finality’ or TSO. Contrary to popular belief, TSO also includes many ‘non-technical’ study programs such as social and welfare studies, economics and organization, or sports. In total, 31.6% of students in TSO followed a STEM track. Two years ago, this was still 34%. The BSO, or ‘labor market finality’ tracks, also experienced a significant decline. Last school year, 36% of Limburg’s vocational students were in a STEM program. General Secondary Education (ASO) or ‘university preparation finality’ follows the opposite trend and saw an increase in STEM popularity up to last school year. In 2023-2024, 47% of Limburg students in ASO followed a STEM track.
Small Gap with Flanders in Higher Education
In higher education too, little improvement can be seen in the number of young people graduating in STEM. Last academic year, 20.4% of Limburg students in higher education graduated with a STEM degree. That is only marginally higher than the level ten years ago (19.5%). Moreover, in recent years a small gap has emerged with the Flemish average. Across Flanders, unlike Limburg, there has been a slight increase over the past two years. In the 2023-2024 academic year, 21.6% of all students in Flanders graduated with a STEM degree (1.2 percentage points higher than in Limburg).
Professional Bachelor’s Programs Least STEM-Oriented
The proportion of STEM graduates is lowest in professional bachelor programs. Only 14% of Limburg graduates in this type of program earned a STEM degree. For academic bachelor’s programs, this share rises to 25%. In associate degree (graduate) programs, STEM accounts for 1 in 3 of the degrees earned by Limburgers. Finally, among master’s students, one fifth of Limburg students graduate in STEM. It is noteworthy that more than half of these Limburg STEM master’s graduates earned their diploma outside their home province.
Major Challenge
The recent results of the STEM monitor are therefore not very encouraging. At the same time, cries from the business world for technical profiles are growing louder. Deputy for Economy and Chair of POM Limburg Tom Vandeput: “Our economy desperately needs those STEM profiles to continue innovating and to find solutions to societal challenges such as climate change, digitalization, aging, and so on. A critical look at the current situation and a targeted, ambitious plan for the future are more necessary than ever to reverse the trend. A strong and sustainable collaboration between governments, educational partners, and businesses is indispensable in this regard.”
