A critical review of research on STEM education in Qatar

Abstract

In the light of the mounting national promotion, encouragement, and support of the skillsets that are critical to the knowledge economy in Qatar, the present article offers a critical review of the current body of literature that examines science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in this Arabian Gulf state. Over the past few decades, there has been a proliferation of writing on STEM in different countries, especially those in the West, and research conducted in this area has significantly advanced our knowledge and understanding of the scope, complexity, and importance of this field. However, work done on STEM in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and the Arab world more broadly has been received little reflection and critique. This article sets out to critically review STEM-related literature in Qatar, using salient electronic bibliographic databases and specific selection criteria to conduct the search for relevant publications on the topic, including journal articles and conference papers. This review discusses gaps in theory and flaws in methodology.