Preliminary Effects of STEAM Programs on Students’ Career Variables in the Republic of Korea’s K-12 Classrooms: Meta-analysis and Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

In South Korea, STEAM education policy has been implemented since 2011. STEAM education has also been implemented with the aim of promoting students’ interest in pursuing careers in STEM fields; however, existing studies on the impact of STEAM programs on career-related outcomes remain limited. The purpose of this study is to identify trends in STEAM education research related to students’ career-related benefits and to examine its effectiveness. A systematic literature review was employed to describe key trends in STEAM education related to career-related benefits. A multilevel meta-analysis was also conducted using R for Statistical Computing (Version 4.5.2) to achieve the research goal. This study included only theses and dissertations published between 2011 and 2025. A total of 27 studies were selected, all focusing on STEAM programs that examined career-related variables. From these studies, 35 effect sizes were extracted for analysis. STEAM education showed a moderate positive effect on students’ career-related outcomes (Hedges’ g = 0.45), with most programs being science-centered and primarily focusing on short-term outcomes such as career awareness and interest.