What does it mean to be "STEM competent"? And how should education systems across Europe support learners in getting there? These are the questions at the heart of a major new study that PPMI | Part of the Verian Group, is carrying out for the European Commission (DG EAC): the development of the EU STEM Competence Framework.
The new framework will join the established European "Comp family", alongside DigComp, GreenComp, LifeComp, and EntreComp, and for the first time provide a shared European reference for STEM competences across all stages of education, from early childhood through adult learning.
Enhancing STEM education is high priority for Europe. STEM competences are central to Europe's capacity to innovate and to navigate the green and digital transitions, yet STEM education remains remarkably fragmented. Definitions vary, teachers lack a common reference point for what they are working towards, and persistent equity gaps mean that far too many learners never fully access the benefits of quality STEM education. A shared framework can transform this by providing Member States, educators, and policymakers with a clear, evidence-based tool to support curriculum development, teacher training, and education policies.
The framework is being developed through an extensive co-creation process. Building on a comprehensive evidence base that maps STEM/STEAM definitions, national curricula, and effective practices across all 27 EU Member States, the project will engage hundreds of stakeholders (educators, policymakers, researchers, industry representatives, and civil society) through approximately 20 workshops structured in three consultation waves. The draft framework will then be tested in real-world settings across five European countries before finalisation. The project is led by a core research team of leading European STEM education experts and guided by a high-level Advisory Board, ensuring the framework is both scientifically rigorous and practically relevant.
The project runs until 2028 and will deliver the framework, along with practical implementation guidelines and a dedicated dissemination strategy to support uptake across the EU.
