The conference “STEAM for Tomorrow: From Erasmus+ Results to Skills and Policy in Higher Education” took place on 30-31 October 2025 at Johannes Kepler University in Linz, gathering over 60 participants from across Europe. The international event brought together experts, researchers, policymakers, project coordinators, and members of the European Commission to share and discuss successful initiatives that promote STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) methodologies in higher education.

Key aims of the conference included increasing the visibility of projects, fostering professional networks within the European STEAM community, and generating policy recommendations for higher education and national policymakers. Throughout the event, sessions focused on STEAM’s influence on innovative learning outcomes, the development of key competences and future skills, and ways to make STEM disciplines more attractive — with particular attention to inclusion and gender equality.

The programme began with introductory words by Elmar Pichl (Austrian Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research), Alexander Freischlager (Johannes Kepler University Linz), Susanne Buck (Austrian Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research), and Zsolt Lavicza (Johannes Kepler University Linz), followed by inputs from Hugo Pinto de Abreu (European Commission DG EAC) and Thomas Chiu (Chinese University of Hong Kong). 

Project presentations included transformative initiatives such as STEPAM, STEAMigPOWER, Founding Lab, STEAM Innovation and Curriculum, STEAM-Connect, STE[A+]M, TransEET, and IMST, each demonstrating practical advances in STEAM education from teacher training to digital and embodied learning approaches.
Thematic breakout sessions addressed key topics:

• STEAM for teacher education: Exploring how STEAM principles can inform teacher education policies and frameworks, supporting innovative, interdisciplinary and creative pedagogies in both initial and continuing training
• STEAM for competences, skills and curricula: Focusing on policy measures that promote competence-based education, transversal skills and curriculum renewal through STEAM methodologies, aligning higher education with future skills agendas
• STEAM and AI: Considering how policy and governance can support the responsible integration of artificial intelligence within STEAM education, fostering innovation while upholding ethical and human-centred principles.

The event concluded with presentations and discussions of group recommendations, a networking lunch, and opportunities for further exchange and collaboration.