On 17 June, Ecsite – the European Association of Science Centres and Museums – contributed to the European Commission Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture and the Technopolis Group’s “Study Validation Seminar on Promoting STEM Education in Schools”. Ecsite was joined by five of its member institutions: Copernicus Science Centre (Poland), Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia “Leonardo da Vinci” (Italy), Parque de las Ciencias de Andalucía (Spain), Vilnius University Methodical STEAM Education Centre (Lithuania), and the Experimentarium (Denmark).

The study forms part of a broader policy initiative to shape the future of STEM education across Europe and beyond. It focuses on:

• Mapping key obstacles and enabling factors for successful STEM education to guide future policy action;
• Undertaking a comprehensive survey of national, regional, and local reforms, strategies, policies, competence frameworks, and best practices;
• Identifying key policy challenges and effective strategies in both EU and non-EU contexts;
• Analysing EU-level instruments—particularly Erasmus+—to assess their effectiveness in advancing STEM education;
• Formulating policy recommendations across all levels of governance.

Ecsite and its members brought forward the essential perspective of non-formal STEM education, emphasising the pivotal role of science centres, museums, STEM research institutions, etc. Their contributions drew from extensive experience in teacher training, partnerships with schools, content development and validation, skills enhancement, science engagement, trust-building in science, and educational innovation—often within the framework of large-scale EU or nationally funded projects.

The significance of science centres and museums in shaping Europe’s STEM learning landscape has been explicitly acknowledged in the EU’s “STEM Education Strategic Plan” and in recent publications such as the Joint Research Centre’s brief, “STEM and STEAM Education, and Disciplinary Integration: A Guide to Informed Policy Action”.

As the European Commission continues its intensive dialogue on STEM education and skills—set to influence funding priorities in Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, and the forthcoming FP10 Framework Programme—Ecsite and its members remain committed to sharing insight and expertise to help shape a forward-looking and inclusive STEM education agenda.

Ecsite will continue to share updates as developments unfold in this significant policy area.