Student-led organisations and STEM education: a review

Abstract

STEM education faces several challenges in providing students with the complementary skills and knowledge needed to prepare them for an increasingly uncertain future. Student-led organisations (SLOs) are considered as one of the best ways to complement classroom learning through a hands-on approach. This systematic literature review aims to understand the different types of student-led organisations, the main barriers, drivers and the outcomes for students, higher education institutions (HEI) and society in general. The findings highlight that SLOs are relevant for the development of students’ “soft” skills, global awareness, and employability. Also, they play an important role in increasing student engagement and retention, especially in underrepresented groups (such as women or latino(a)s). Finally, the review highlights the need for more research on this topic to improve HEIs’ support of these organisations.