Jul 29, 2016 03:11 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Recent STEM education statistics 2016 revealed that the program has seen a rise in female enrollees among international students. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

According to The Journal Times, STEM education aims to help students learn more about specific subjects by connecting science, math, engineering as well as design concepts through technical applications. It incorporates a project-based approach is expected to increase career opportunities for learners.

In January this year, it was reported that the U.S. will have more than a million job openings in STEM-related fields by 2018. Moreover, about 71 percent of all jobs is believed to require STEM skills.

The publication noted that elementary school students only receive an average of 19 minutes of science instruction per day from kindergarten through third grade. The age group only gets 24 minutes per day from fourth grade through sixth grade. Only 8 percent of American college students major in engineering and 5 percent major in computer science and math.

Study International reported some good news, though. Apparently, more female international students are choosing to pursue a degree in STEM fields at various U.S. universities.

STEM education statistics 2016 data from the U.S. government revealed that 33 percent of all F&M STEM students are female. Moreover, the total number of active female F&M STEM students increased to 68 percent last year since Feb. 2010. Most enrollees are from developing countries such as India and China.

UC Davis College of Engineering dean Jennifer Sinclair Curtis also noted, via U.S. News, that U.S. companies are beginning to proactively recruit people who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM. They are also currently seeking companies with entrepreneurial backgrounds who "are used to working in environments that are both highly competitive and evolving."

Furthermore, she added that female international graduates from U.S. universities "with both a STEM degree and some exposure to innovation or entrepreneurship will be highly sought as an employee by global companies large and small."

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