Alternative solutions to address Australia's STEM paradox

The next step is to find out who are the potential employers and what are they looking for in a STEM graduate. This is where I think STEM students lag behind their peers in business or related degrees. Business students are very career-minded because of a strong emphasis on career development and market orientation that quickly shifts their focus 'from learning to earning'.

From my own experience as a STEM graduate and subsequently a mentor at the University of Melbourne, I found that most STEM students do not seek career advice until close to graduation or after. By then, they may have lost valuable time to brush up on transferable skills such as commercial acumen or ability to write that are attractive to future employers.

In the interest of producing more employable STEM graduates, universities need to invest in innovative career services that demonstrate value and generate students' participation. For instance, universities should partner with new platforms such as Ribit, InternMe and The New Kid to successfully connect students with industry internships. Apart from that, mentorship programs such as IMNIS which links STEM PhD students with experienced mentors is a great initiative aimed at developing industry savvy graduates.

Taking ownership of one's career

In closing, investing in high quality STEM education will ensure Australia's future prosperity and competitiveness in the globalised world. However, this needs to be carefully implemented lest we end up with a glut of highly-skilled STEM graduates who struggle to find employment.

A STEM education is often considered a 'universal degree' due to its well-rounded curriculum that teaches highly-employable skills. However, STEM students need to take ownership of their careers way before graduation day so that they are ready to join the workforce in times of economic uncertainty. When our students have worked that out, it may not be long before Australia becomes the fifth country in the world to launch a Mars probe into space.