STEM School Label
With the STEM School Label, school representatives are able to evaluate their school via an online self-assessment tool, according to criteria defining a STEM School. This self-assessment tool identifies areas that require development and provides training and resources for its participating schools, with the aim of improving their activities in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at the school level.
The objective of this project is to provide guidance to European schools with the aim of increasing young Europeans' interest and skills in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Schools are provided with the tools that are needed in order to engage their students and teachers and other actors in related activities.
The STEM School Label is a joint initiative of European Schoolnet, Ciencia Viva (Portugal), Maison pour la science en Alsace (France), the Center for the Promotion of Science (Serbia) and the National Education Agency (Lithuania).
As of 2021, all STEM School Label activities continue under Scientix with funding by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
STEM School Label features the following activities:
- The development of a transnational set of criteria in order to identify STEM schools.
- Guidance for schools and their stakeholders meant to improve their STEM education activities in the classroom, but also to create connections and links with STEM stakeholders outside the school.
- The compilation of existing useful and innovative STEM education resources for schools, with the aim of improving their STEM activities.
- The development of a transnational network and community of STEM schools, to lay the ground for peer to peer learning activities.
Download the European STEM Schools Report – Key elements and criteria here
- STEM School Key Elements And Criteria (Infosheet)
- European STEM Schools Report - Key Elements and Criteria (Executive Report)
- European STEM Schools Report - Key Elements and Criteria (Full Report)
- European STEM Schools Report - Key Elements and Criteria (Full Report in Lithuanian)
- European STEM Schools Report - Key Elements and Criteria (Full Report in Portuguese)
- European STEM Schools Report - Key Elements and Criteria (Full Report in French)
- European STEM Schools Report - Key Elements and Criteria (Full Report in Serbian)
Basic information
Several reports and intellectual outputs are produced as part of the STEM School Label project:
- A STEM School Report: this first report describes how each “STEM School Label” partner qualifies as a school advanced in the field of STEM, or having a strong STEM programme, in its own country. Advanced STEM schools in other countries are also approached. This comparative report is a key element in identifying the characteristics that make up the definition used for a STEM School in Europe.
- A reference framework for schools that each must complete in order to qualify as a STEM School: the criteria of the self-assessment form are subject to a co-construction process among its partners. All these criteria constitute a reference framework for those schools that apply for the STEM School Label.
- A progressive pathways guide for obtaining the STEM School Label: this guide identifies the three main stages (beginner/intermediate/advanced) for applying schools, each depending on the school’s situation in relation to the criteria, using examples of initiatives and best practices.
- An ecosystem with first learning/teaching modules: this ecosystem offers the applicant schools measures that can improve their STEM strategies, via links to resources created at the national level or via European/international projects.
- An operational online self-assessment platform: the transnational framework of criteria is designed as an online operational self-assessment tool.
- A STEM School Label report on best practices and main findings: this is a final evaluation report of the project.
With the STEM School Label, school representatives are able to evaluate their school via an online self-assessment tool. This self-assessment tool identifies areas that require development and provides training and resources for its participating schools, meant to improve their STEM activities. The STEM School Label also offers schools the opportunity to join a community of STEM schools in Europe.