Having trouble chartering your course in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)? The Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) has you covered.
Through the inauguration of a STEM Career Guidebook by the DOST-SEI, the first in the country, discovering a career roadmap in STEM is made easier for Filipino youth.
This was done during the celebration of the 2022 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW). Called Finding North In STEM, the said guidebook serves as a handy reference and assessment tool carefully crafted and designed to guide Filipino students into STEM careers that fit their skills and interests.
According to DOST-SEI, the guidebook features a variety of career specializations that go beyond the popular field. It aims to develop a culture of science and technology among the youth, promote STEM education, and popularize careers that are unfamiliar to many. It specifically highlights STEM courses that are covered by the DOST-SEI scholarship programs for both undergraduate and graduate levels. The launching event held last Nov. is a product of a fruitful collaboration between the DOST-SEI and the University of the Philippines National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP NISMED) through the Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Mathematics Education and Research (FPSMER).
This joint effort to produce useful material transpired under the project “#Push4Science: Maging DOST Scholar Ka! Campaign”, which aims to promote STEM careers and DOST Scholarship Programs to priority municipalities. UP NISMED representatives, spearheaded by Director Dr. Sheryl Monterola, led the demonstration on how to navigate the Guidebook. A toolkit for teachers and a guide for parents will also be available soon. The toolkit aims to empower the teachers with the right knowledge to help their students go over the guidebook, while the quick guide hopes to introduce STEM to parents.
DOST-SEI trusts that the STEM Career Guidebook would serve as a solid compass that could enlighten, comfort, and reassure clarity in the future of the Filipino youth.
“We envision that this guidebook will allow the students to realize their inner potential in STEM and help the country attain a critical mass of science and technology professionals. We hope that it will spark interest among the youth to take part in the highly competitive and tech-driven world and contribute towards elevating our country’s adaption to this new era,” said Dr. Josette Biyo, Director of DOST-SEI.
Dr. Monterola also thanked DOST-SEI for the opportunity to prepare the youth to be more proactive in choosing their own career paths.
“This guidebook is not only for students already interested in STEM, but this book will also be impactful to those who are not yet certain about which path to take in college. This is our way of extending our hands to the future, making sure that we really participate in building the critical mass of productive workforce in science,” she said.
DOST-SEI hopes that the STEM Career Guidebook could remind Filipino youth about the essence of careful career planning and challenge them to thread in the right direction.