Generation STEM 
STEM Community 
Partnerships program

Key monitoring and evaluation insights 2025

STEM Community Partnerships Program (STEM CPP) is part of the Generation 
STEM initiative, funded by the NSW Government and delivered by CSIRO, 
to attract, support and retain NSW students in STEM and school into further 
education and employment. 

STEM CPP comprises a range of activities across the 
school year including the #WithSTEMYouCan Career Expo, 
industry site visits, STEM mentor incursions, TAFE Tasters 
and term‑long, locally‑relevant STEM projects which 
culminate in showcase events across New South Wales.

The findings summarised here and on the following page are 
based on survey and interview data collected during program 
activities held in 2025. Participants included educators, 
high school students, and industry mentors and partners.

STEM education is at its best 
when students can see how 
it connects to the real world. 

The 2025 STEM 
Community 
Partnerships 
Program findings 
show that authentic, 
community‑focused 
experiences are 
helping young people 
across NSW see 
STEM not just as a 
school subject, but as 
a powerful tool for 
solving problems, 
contributing to their 
communities, and 
shaping their futures.

Key findings

More than 3,000 students participated in STEM 
CPP activities in 2025. The evaluation found that the 
program’s greatest impact is not simply increasing 
interest in STEM. Instead, it is helping students better 
understand why STEM matters, where it can take them, 
and how it applies to their everyday lives.

A particularly encouraging finding is the program’s strong 
equity potential. Students from low socio‑economic 
backgrounds experienced the largest gains in 
recognising the value of STEM, demonstrating the power 
of relevant, real-world learning experiences. However, 
the evaluation also highlights an important challenge: 
many of the students who could benefit most from the 
program remain underrepresented in participation.

Teachers and industry partners continue to 
be critical to STEM CPP’s success. Educators 
reported stronger teaching practices and 
improved student engagement, while industry 
partners highlighted the value of connecting 
with schools and communities. The evidence suggests that 
even greater impact could be achieved through deeper, 
longer-term partnerships and increased support for 
schools facing curriculum and time constraints.

Looking ahead

Overall, the findings indicate that STEM CPP helped students 
build confidence, develop essential future skills, and explore 
STEM pathways they may not have previously considered.

The evaluation suggests that the success of the program model 
is dependent on maintaining authentic learning experiences, 
expanding access to underrepresented communities, and 
strengthening school and industry partnerships.


Generation STEM is managed by CSIRO and made possible 
by the NSW Government’s $25 million endowment to the 
Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF).


Other key STEM CPP insights include:

86% of students said 
STEM showcase events 
increased their interest 
in STEM.

80% of students 
reported greater STEM 
interest after completing 
investigation‑based 
community projects.

Students showed a 
significant increase in 
recognising STEM’s 
usefulness in everyday life.

Low socio-economic 
status students 
experienced the largest 
gains in understanding 
STEM’s relevance.

86% of students reported 
greater awareness of 
STEM education pathways.

83% of students said 
they know more about 
potential STEM careers.

97% of students reported 
increased confidence 
in their problem-solving 
abilities.

Teachers observed significant 
improvements in students’ 
communication (84%), 
creative problem-solving (72%) 
and teamwork (64%).

Over 90% of industry 
partners felt supported 
and able to contribute 
meaningfully to 
the program.

57% of students 
expect to work in 
STEM‑central careers 
by age 30, highlighting 
strong STEM aspirations.



Read the full 2025 insights report (PDF)

Find out more at csiro.au/generationSTEM

Email generationSTEM@csiro.au


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solutions for a productive, sustainable and secure future.

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