STEAM Research for Innovation and Competency Development: A Systematic Review

Abstract

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education is increasingly recognized as a strategic approach to fostering innovation and competency development in higher education. This study presents a systematic literature review of STEAM research and its implications for promoting innovation through art-science collaboration. A total of 172 articles were initially identified through database searches, of which 34 met the inclusion criteria for final analysis. The review included publications from IEEE Xplore, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Springer, covering the period from 2014 to 2024. The selected studies highlight diverse case studies and applied research initiatives involving interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams. Results reveal a global increase in STEAM-related academic output, although research remains limited in Latin America. This gap underscores the importance of promoting regional studies and institutional support in Latin America to strengthen STEAM research ecosystems. Key competencies linked to innovation identified in the reviewed studies include critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. This review contributes to understanding the role of STEAM in advancing educational innovation and knowledge transfer through integrated, collaborative practices.