Title: Exploring the Factors that Influence the Persistence of Arab Youth in STEM Disciplines and Careers
Stream: Education, Sustainability & Society: Social Justice, Development & Political Movements
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Authors:
Zubair Ahmad, Qatar University, Qatar
Nitha Siby, Qatar University, Qatar
Jolly Bhadra, Qatar University, Qatar
Noora Al-thani, Qatar University, Qatar
Abstract:
Human capacity building is one of the key drivers to solidifying a nation’s economy and prosperity and securing a sustainable future for the country. It is highly significant that the human resources are required to be highly competent across multiple domains for sustaining self-reliability and vitality to the nations. However, it is a common concern for the countries in the middle- east to depend on the highly skilled expatriates to suffice the requirements in Science, Technology, Engineering & technology (STEM) based employment areas. Despite the massive investment in the education sector for empowering the national youth for transferring their reliance from hydrocarbon industries to a knowledge-based sustainable economy, Qatar still falls behind to meet the labor needs. Our current study focuses on examining the perspectives of the youth, specifically, undergraduate students to understand the factors that lead them to pursue STEM and non-STEM careers. There are multiple factors that influence the STEM interest or persistence in college, that are examined using a triangular based assessment method to construct an overall framework of their learning and career-based behavior. Academic factors like subject interest, course work, STEM skills, etc., social factors like peer influence, family motivation, institutional excellence etc. and personal factors like individual interests, subject interest, career interest need to be explored. The study on these factors will lead the higher management authorities to execute tangible solutions to recruit younger population to STEM fields. This study is supported by Qatar University under the grant QUCG 22/23 (485).
Conference Comments & Feedback
Place a comment using your LinkedIn profileShare this Presentation
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress