Integrating the Steam Framework into the Final Thesis Process at the Faculty of Economics

Modern pedagogical practice is guided by two educational frameworks that shape the learning process from early childhood education to higher education: STEM and STEAM curricula. The Technical University in Košice, Faculty of Economics, primarily adopts the STEM model due to its technical focus. However, economics is a social science, which necessitates the incorporation of STEAM elements as well. This area is still evolving within the industry. The relevance of this issue has been explored in our previous research. In this paper, we discuss the application of the STEAM framework in university-level pedagogy, particularly in the context of final thesis projects. Through a case study, we examine how the “art” component interacts with the technical focus of the final theses of TUKE EKF students. The paper also addresses the process of selecting appropriate thesis topics for individual students, observing the level of the student's original contribution to the chosen issue. Furthermore, it evaluates and synthesizes the methods used by educators to apply STEAM principles and their effectiveness in guiding students during the development of their final theses.