In the United States, the acronym began to be used in education and immigration debates in initiatives to begin to address the perceived lack of qualified candidates for high-tech jobs. It also addresses concern that the subjects are often taught in isolation, instead of as an integrated curriculum.[21] Maintaining a citizenry that is well versed in the STEM fields is a key portion of the public education agenda of the United States.[22] The acronym has been widely used in the immigration debate regarding access to United States work visas for immigrants who are skilled in these fields.