Mapping Collaborations in STEM Education: A Scoping Review and Typology of In-School–Out-of-School Partnerships

Ziegler A, Shiani M, Wengler D, Stoeger H (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Education Sciences MDPI

Book Volume: 15

Article Number: 1513

Journal Issue: 11

DOI: 10.3390/educsci15111513

Abstract

In-school–out-of-school collaborations are increasingly recognized as a key mechanism for enriching STEM education. Guided by conceptual frameworks on boundary crossing and STEM learning ecologies, this scoping review maps and synthesizes findings from 470 studies and 469 programs published between 2014 and 2024, focusing on how such partnerships are reported, structured, and distributed across educational contexts. Approximately 73% of the programs reported some form of collaboration, although often in general terms. The most common forms included shared infrastructure, recruitment coordination, and personnel involvement. More pedagogically grounded forms, such as curricular alignment and co-development of instruction, were rarely described. Collaboration patterns varied across program types, durations, subject areas, and participant target groups. A typology of seven collaboration categories was developed to organize the findings. Notable gaps include the near-total absence of collaboration in medicine-related programs and the underrepresentation of research from low- and middle-income countries. Although collaboration is frequently mentioned, it is seldom described in enough detail to support systematic analysis or theoretical insight. The review recommends more precise definitions, stronger reporting practices, and enhanced theoretical engagement with collaboration as a pedagogical and systemic component of STEM education. The proposed typology provides a foundation for more coherent future research and comparative studies.

Authors with CRIS profile

Albert Ziegler Lehrstuhl für Pädagogische Psychologie und Exzellenzforschung Maryam Shiani Lehrstuhl für Pädagogische Psychologie und Exzellenzforschung

Involved external institutions

Universität Regensburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Ziegler, A., Shiani, M., Wengler, D., & Stoeger, H. (2025). Mapping Collaborations in STEM Education: A Scoping Review and Typology of In-School–Out-of-School Partnerships. Education Sciences, 15(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15111513

MLA:

Ziegler, Albert, et al. "Mapping Collaborations in STEM Education: A Scoping Review and Typology of In-School–Out-of-School Partnerships." Education Sciences 15.11 (2025).

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