Developing Applied STEM and Digital Skills in Lebanon
Findings from implementation research
Highlights
This report presents the results of a 14-week applied STEM education pilot in Lebanon designed to strengthen girls’ and boys’ technical skills and prepare them for an increasingly digital world. Through hands-on, project-based learning, students developed competencies in coding, physical computing, data literacy, automation and introductory artificial intelligence, applying these skills to real-world challenges. The pilot also fostered critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and creativity, key competencies for future employability and lifelong learning.
Implementation research was embedded throughout to assess delivery in public school settings, measure gains in technical skills, and examine the feasibility of sustainable, teacher-led implementation.
Findings show significant learning gains among participating students, including higher coding assessment scores compared to non-participants. The pilot also narrowed gender gaps in attitudes towards STEM, with girls reporting increased interest in STEM-related careers. Results further highlight the importance of school leadership, access to devices and interactive pedagogy in achieving strong outcomes - critical considerations for scale-up.
