Employability and STEM partnership support

The STEM learning in the community element recognises practice and commitment to community learning and development which is helping to build STEM capital. Providers applying for this element will be using STEM to make connections with their local community. Providers may choose to focus on adult learning, family learning, youth work or a combination of these depending on the demographics of their learners.

What does this look like in ELC and school settings?

  • Our partnerships with employers, our regional college and or other STEM stakeholders enable us to deliver a wide range of STEM activities.
  • Our partnership work supports professional learning and helps to build practitioner’s leadership capacity and understanding of green industries, STEM workplaces and associated pathways and training opportunities.
  • Employability skills, as outlined in the Career Education Standard (3-18), are being developed equitably through STEM and Learning for Sustainability contexts and are helping to support Scotland’s transition to a Net Zero Nation.
  • We work with our partners to promote positive perceptions of STEM that challenge stereotypes and preconceptions, plan a range of learning pathways in STEM and inspire learners and their families.

What does this look like in a CLD setting?

  • Our partnerships with employers, local college(s) and other STEM stakeholders enable us to deliver a wide range of STEM activities.
  • Our partnership work supports professional learning and helps to build practitioner’s leadership capacity and understanding of STEM workplaces, training and employability opportunities.
  • Employability skills, which may include those outlined in the Career Education Standard (3 – 18), are being developed through STEM contexts.
  • We work with our partners to promote positive perceptions of STEM and Learning for Sustainability that challenge stereotypes and preconceptions, inform the development of learning pathways and inspire learners.
  • Our practitioners are aware of key STEM industries, including green jobs, and help learners develop the skills needed to support the local economy.
  • We support our learners to make effective use of skills-profiling tools to enhance their employment prospects. By highlighting meta-skills, STEM pathways and green jobs we are supporting Scotland’s transition to a Net Zero Nation.

Hints and tips

Whilst STEM competitions offer great enrichment for pupils, they are often delivered by STEM providers rather than partners. A true partnership should involve collaboration and codesign to deliver support tailored to the needs of your learners.
Partnership working presents opportunities for staff to learn more about STEM industries too! Consider planning site visits or Q&As for your colleagues to help them gain first hand knowledge of how STEM skills are used outwith the education sector.
TEM partners are experts in their field but they may have limited experience of working with children, especially primary and ELC. STEM Ambassadors will welcome opportunities to work together to develop age appropriate activities.
Employability skills should be a key feature of STEM partnership work. You may wish to link learning in this area to SDS’s meta-skills framework.

Interesting practice examples

Braes High School
Cargenbridge Primary School

Element support resources

Policies, planning, professional learning

Self evaluation and improvement planning

STEM partners