Factors Influencing Pre-University Students’ Interests towards STEM Programs and Careers

STEM professionals are greatly needed to supply the global demands of the Industry 4.0. Students' choice of programs during their enrolment into pre-universities will affect their ultimate decision to pursue STEM careers. The number of students who enrolled in STEM programs is declining. A number of Science stream graduates of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) opted to enroll in Arts stream instead of Science stream during their pre-university studies. These students revealed that they either fear Science subjects which are deemed more difficult or have no interests. The objective of this study is to examine the factors that influence STEM interests among pre-university students. The sample population was taken from University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) Semester 2 Foundation in Arts (FIA) students, session 2018/2019. This research was carried out using a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using R software. The results revealed that teachers were the most influential factor to inspire STEM interests. Academic institutions may potentially use the findings to formulate their marketing strategies to increase STEM enrolments. This study will help increase the awareness of the gap between STEM interests and growth in STEM graduates. It provides an insight for future research on students' interests in STEM careers.