Blog icon

About the program

STEM‑INSIGHTS Capability Enhancer (CE) focuses on strengthening evidence-based practice across the STEM education ecosystem, with the aim of improving student engagement and learning, and increasing participation and retention in STEM education and careers.

CE supports capability development across four key areas:

  • Evidence implementation: Building skills to apply research and effective practice to plan, deliver and improve STEM education initiatives
  • Monitoring, evaluation and learning: Strengthening understanding of what works, for whom, under what conditions, and why
  • Data use: Supporting the effective collection, analysis and use of data to inform decision-making.

Using a needs-first, networked approach, Capability Enhancer works with the STEM‑INSIGHTS Network to identify priority needs and co-design responses. It also develops practical, evidence-informed resources that can be adapted across different contexts and audiences.

Capability Enhancer overview

Learn more about STEM-INSIGHTS

/-/media/Education-and-Outreach/Program-Library/Capability-Enhancer/Images/IMGS4810.JPG?mw=1000&hash=6D5BF9D5089C6A5F0D2CA3412031E5CA

The opportunity

Capability Enhancer offers flexible ways to get involved:

  • Build capability (Adopt): Workshops and practical sessions to understand the principles of evidence use and how to apply STEM‑INSIGHTS knowledge tools in your work
  • Implementation support (Adapt): Tailored guidance to adapt tools to your context
  • Co-design Knowledge Products: Collaborate to develop shareable tools and approaches 
  • Contribute to evidence synthesis: Help shape shared evidence and best practice across the sector

Through this work, organisations can strengthen their use of evidence and contribute insights back to the STEM education ecosystem.

Program eligibility

Our collaborators need to:

  • have a base in Australia
  • be a STEM education/learning program provider, working with students or through educators, parents, STEM professionals, or communities
  • aim to increase participation or retention in STEM education and/or careers
  • have an interest in using evidence to improve STEM education outcomes.
  • be able to enter into a Collaboration Agreement with CSIRO to work together to build evidence capability and share the learnings with the STEM education ecosystem

*Note that organisations Australia-wide are welcome to apply but those who deliver wholly or partly in New South Wales may be given higher priority.

How to apply

At selected times, CSIRO may invite organisations to participate in more in-depth collaborations through Capability Enhancer. These collaborations support organisations to build their capability while contributing practical insights, tools and approaches to the wider STEM education ecosystem.

In the meantime, join the STEM-INSIGHTS Network to be notified of future Capability Enhancer opportunities.

Contact us

Have a question we haven't answered on our site? Fill in our contact form and we'll get back to you promptly.