Integrating Arts into STEM: A Systematic Review of STEAM Education Practices in Southeast Asia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70148/rise.v3i5.10Keywords:
STEAM education, Southeast Asia, educational innovation, interdisciplinary learning, systematic literature reviewAbstract
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education has gained increasing attention as an interdisciplinary approach for developing creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills essential for the 21st century. Despite its growing adoption across Southeast Asia, evidence regarding implementation practices, challenges, and future directions remains fragmented. This study aims to systematically review STEAM education practices in five Southeast Asian countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, 49 studies published between 2016 and 2025 were retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science databases and analyzed using thematic synthesis. The findings indicate that project-based learning, technology integration, culturally responsive pedagogy, and sustainability-oriented approaches are the predominant practices implemented across the region. However, several barriers continue to hinder effective implementation, including inadequate teacher readiness, limited infrastructure and resources, policy inconsistencies, and challenges in assessing higher-order skills. The review further identifies opportunities to strengthen STEAM education through sustained professional development, pedagogically driven technology adoption, localized curriculum design, improved assessment frameworks, and stronger policy and leadership support. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape of STEAM education in Southeast Asia and provides evidence-based recommendations to support future educational practices, policymaking, and research in the region.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Krisantini Vinayagan, Nina Diana Nawi, Nor Farahwahidah Abdul Rahman (Author)
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