2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This is an empirical work in progress. STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. STEM students solve real-world problems. For example, engineers must identify problems, ideate, prototype, test, and implement the best solution. Creativity is required to solve real-world problems. To increase creativity, innovation, and other competencies in STEM students necessary for employability and economic growth, the Americans for the Arts-National Policy Roundtable introduced STEAM, which integrates STEM with the arts. Creativity is still considered complex to define. The widely accepted definition states that creativity requires originality and effectiveness. Various studies emphasize that students and alums of engineering schools perceive a deficiency in their creativity and problem-solving strategies. Creativity and innovation affect economic growth. Economic growth, human progress, and, thus, the country's development is directly influenced by technological innovation. Thus, understanding how alumns and employers perceive creativity in a Latin American country is relevant. Only then will we be able to move from STEM to STEAM and, as engineering educators, contribute to the country's development. This empirical work in progress aims to answer the following question: How do employers and alums perceive the level of creativity among recent engineering graduates in a Latin American country? The preliminary findings show that engineering alumns define creativity as something new or a non-structured process. Some of them perceive their work as not being creative. This perception might impact who enrolls in engineering, affect the diversity of the student body and the capacity to innovate for future engineers and impact the country's development.