The first use of the term is often credited to Judith Ramalay at the U.S.

National Science
Foundation (NSF) in 2001 who re-ordered the term then used by NSF, SMET (Breiner et al.,
2012; Mohr-Shroeder, Cavalcanti, & Blyman, 2015; Sanders, 2009). However, references to
STEM used to refer collectively to those four disciplines can be found in published material
several years prior to that date, such as Robinson (1994).

The field of STEM will be the main occupation in the future [23]. Many countries have
broadly adopted STEM education in their own countries [23] as they realize the needs and
importance of this field. STEM has evolved exponentially and has become a talk of the town
worldwide. (Mariani et al., 2013)

STEM education, which combines the disciplines of science, mathematics, engineering, and
technology, has managed to draw the attention of educators all over the world. Since the
1990s, STEM education has been introduced by major countries such as the United States,
England, and Australia in their national education system [7]. The determination to breed a
new generation of adroit expertise in the four disciplines is essential with a world filled with
technological sophistication challenges in the future. (Blackley et al., 2015)

STEM education development is essential for most countries in the world and become focus
of innovation and social impacts of 21st century. The improvement of STEM education is in
demand nation-wide for solving complex global issues and global economic development.
(McDonald, 2016)

Policymakers and educational researchers worldwide, increasingly focus on ensuring

students’ persistence and success in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM) (Skinner et al., 2017)

Therefore, educators will have the confidence to believe that STEM education can produce
skilled and competitive students in the era of globalization. (Wong et al., 2020)

Governments, curriculum bodies and schools across a wide range of countries have
resolutely taken up the idea of STEM and can be seen to be investing in a wide range of
STEM initiatives. (Millar, 2020)