Leuven, 10 November 2026
The over 50 leading universities of science and technology united within CESAER have today published a position titled ‘Strengthening STEM education for Europe’s scientific and technological future’, setting out six priorities for European and national action to strengthen STEM education and Europe's long-term scientific and technological capabilities.
CESAER welcomes the growing political recognition of STEM education as a foundation for Europe's competitiveness. Drawing on exchanges with university leaders and experts, the position builds on the distinctive strengths of universities of science and technology in integrating frontier research, education and innovation, the position calls for a comprehensive approach to strengthening STEM education, from improving preparation and transitions into higher education to advancing research-based and interdisciplinary learning, cooperation with industry and lifelong learning. It emphasises that increasing STEM participation and graduate numbers must go hand in hand with educational quality, supported by sustained investment.
Petri Suomala, Co-Chair of CESAER Task Force European Higher Education and Vice President for Education and International Partnerships at Aalto University, said:
“We cannot predict exactly how technologies and professions will evolve, and that makes strong scientific foundations more important, not less. Universities of science and technology have a distinctive role here: through frontier research, research-based education and close cooperation with industry, they help anticipate the developments that will shape future competence needs. European STEM policies should therefore combine an understanding of today's skills needs with a longer-term perspective on scientific and technological developments.”
Justyna Lubośna, Member of the CESAER Board of Directors, Co-Chair of CESAER Task Force European Higher Education and Rector’s Representative for International Educational Programs at Gdańsk University of Technology, said:
“Strengthening STEM education is not simply about getting more students into university. We need to look at the entire educational pathway, from preparation in schools and successful transitions into higher education to advanced competences, employability and lifelong learning. Europe is right to be ambitious about increasing STEM participation, but this must go hand in hand with educational quality and sustained investment in universities' capacity to educate more students to a high standard.”
CESAER stands ready to contribute the expertise of universities of science and technology to European and national efforts to strengthen STEM education, including through the contributions of its Envoys to the STEAM Executive Panel and the European Skills High-Level Board.
For more information, please contact our Advisor for Benchmark & Higher Education Touko Närhi.
We use both our own cookies and those of carefully selected partners we collaborate with.
Check out our detailed Cookie policy » and our Privacy policy » .