RTI International and the Department of Defense have signed a cooperative agreement for the former to continue overseeing the Defense Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Consortium, or DSEC.
The nonprofit research institute said Thursday the potential 10-year, $190 million deal is intended to boost STEM education among K-16 students and educators across the United States through enhanced STEM workforce engagement, program evaluations and public outreach.
Under the agreement, RTI will work with its 28 partner organizations on behalf of the DOD STEM. It will manage the operations, handle communications and engage with the alumni network.
DSEC aims to enhance access to STEM learning experiences by implementing programs that provide underserved communities access to STEM education. It will focus on five main areas, namely:
- Consortium management
- Research and evaluation
- Strategic communications, outreach and alumni management
- Regional hubs and ecosystems
- Strategic STEM initiatives
Rebecca Stanley, consortium chair at DSEC and education consultant at RTI, expressed excitement over continuing their work in boosting interest in STEM, saying, “To build the STEM workforce of tomorrow, we need to offer students meaningful experiences that connect them with real-world careers and help them see STEM careers as achievable and exciting.”
