The EU STEM Coalition published a position paper (15.7.2026) for the European Commission’s forthcoming EU Teachers and Trainers Agenda. The publication highlights the growing shortage of teachers and trainers across Europe and calls for targeted measures to strengthen the availability, expertise, and well-being of teachers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
According to the position paper, the shortage of STEM teachers is one of the most significant barriers to achieving Europe’s green transition, digital transformation, and future skills objectives. Schools are competing with industry, research organizations, and the public sector for STEM talent, making it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain qualified teachers.
The EU STEM Coalition proposes five key STEM-focused measures:
- Promoting hybrid teaching models that connect education and working life.
- Strengthening teachers’ continuous professional development.
- Creating new pathways into the teaching profession.
- Involving teachers in the development of education policy.
- Promoting the wider use of integrated STEM approaches in teaching.
In addition, the network emphasizes the importance of competitive salaries, systematic monitoring of the teacher workforce, and reducing administrative barriers across Europe.
Significance for Finnish Teacher Education and the Teacher Education 2050 Vision
The recommendations of the EU STEM Coalition are closely aligned with Finland’s national Teacher Education 2050 Vision, published in 2025. The vision places research-based teacher education, strong professional expertise, teacher agency, lifelong learning, and broad collaboration among universities, schools, and societal stakeholders at the center of future development.
Of particular significance is the Coalition’s emphasis on continuous professional learning, stronger links between teaching and research, and enhanced collaboration among universities, research institutions, schools, and working life. These are also among the key goals of the Teacher Education 2050 Vision. According to the vision, teachers must be able to renew themselves and continue learning throughout their careers in a rapidly changing environment.
From a Finnish perspective, the position paper reinforces the message that teacher education should be viewed as an integral part of national competence, innovation, and competitiveness strategies. The availability and expertise of STEM teachers are essential components in building Finland’s future knowledge base and talent pipeline.
Perspective from LUMA Centre Finland
According to Professor Jan Lundell, Director of LUMA Centre Finland, the EU STEM Coalition’s position paper strongly supports the objectives of both Finland’s national LUMA strategy and the recently renewed strategy of LUMA Centre Finland.
“The recommendations of the EU STEM Coalition identify many of the same challenges and opportunities that have long been addressed through LUMA activities in Finland. Continuous professional development for teachers, research-based practice, partnerships between universities and schools, and strong links with working life form a sustainable foundation for future STEM competence. Finland’s strength lies in its extensive LUMA network, which brings together teacher education, schools, universities, research, and industry around shared goals.”
“The position paper also highlights the need to deepen collaboration among teacher educators, higher education institutions, and LUMA organisations. The goal of Finland’s national LUMA strategy is to inspire increasing numbers of children and young people to engage with science, mathematics, and technology. This can only be achieved if Finland has a sufficient number of highly skilled, motivated, and continuously developing teachers.”
The EU STEM Coalition’s position paper, Strengthening the STEM Teaching Workforce: Recommendations for the EU Teachers and Trainers Agenda, underlines that solving teacher shortages requires both national and European action. At the same time, it sends a strong message that teachers are central to building Europe’s, and Finland’s, future competence, innovation capacity, and competitiveness.
LUMA Centre Finland is an active member of the EU STEM Coalition, contributing Finnish expertise in research-based STEM education, teacher education, and school-university collaboration while engaging in European policy and development initiatives on STEM learning and teaching.
Read more
European Commission, Strengthening the STEM Teaching Workforce: Recommendations for the EU Teachers and Trainers Agenda
EU STEM Coalition, Strengthening the STEM Teaching Workforce: Recommendations for the EU Teachers and Trainers Agenda (2026)
LUMA Centre Finland, new strategy
Teacher Education Forum, Teacher Education 2050: Vision for Finnish Teacher Education