AAC&U Transforming STEM Education Conference Recap
- Kamela Joy
- Jan 6
- 2 min read
Exploring the Integration of Entrepreneurship in STEM Curricula to Revolutionize Higher Education
Dr. Kamela Joy Goodwyn was honored to present the contents of her book “What’s the Business with STEM?” in November at the AAC&U Conference in Arlington, VA. Over 1,000 STEM professors and administrators across the United States gathered over three days to receive trendy techniques in Transforming STEM Education in Science, Technology and Engineering classrooms and departments.
In the workshop titled after her publication “What’s the Business with STEM?”, Kamela Joy led discussions on the significant contributions entrepreneurship has on the STEM profession. Architecture and Engineering firms, patented science innovation and thriving Technology companies have introduced advanced technologies to consumers and the research world. These STEM advancements revolutionize medical science, cyber security, building structures and infrastructure design.
Collegiate STEM educators joined the interactive workshop and gained an understanding of STEM entrepreneurship curriculum development for science, technology and engineering classrooms. Higher education professionals, representing multiple science disciplines, integrated business concepts into their science curriculum utilizing real-world business scenarios. The overarching STEM entrepreneurship course outcome is a project-based model where students learn how to apply business principles to a STEM enterprise. To support the course objective strategy, Kamela Joy guided workshop participants through course delivery methodologies designed to fully engage STEM students integrating entrepreneurship theories.
Workshop attendees expressed the value in entrepreneurship to the STEM community, yet commented on the challenges of rallying curriculum upgrades and changes at their institutions. Additional attendees exchanged views about their inability to deliver business concepts as credentialed STEM professionals and provided recommendations for interdisciplinary relationships with the College of Business. Both concerns stirred up further conversations about the historical silos of STEM departments in higher education and the push for collaborative projects with liberal arts and business departments. Next, the hurdles of curriculum changes in higher education too exposed the concern of siloed departments as a barrier to advancing curriculum upgrades.
STEM entrepreneurship education in higher education is grossly underrepresented with opportunities to expand its reach to STEM majors in college classrooms. STEM entrepreneurship curriculum integrating business concepts, business principles and business enterprise scenarios, equips learners to apply accounting, marketing, finance and patent filing activities to STEM industries.
What else do you think is preventing this shift in higher education?
What's the Business with STEM?
If you're ready to explore how entrepreneurship can transform STEM education, What’s the Business with STEM? by Kamela Joy is your essential guide. Packed with insights and practical strategies for integrating business concepts into STEM curricula, this book empowers educators to shape the next generation of innovators. Get your copy today and start making a lasting impact in the classroom and beyond!
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