November 13, 2024, WARSAW – The GE Aerospace Foundation announced today its partnership with the Perspektywy Education Foundation for the launch of its education program Next Engineers in Warsaw. Warsaw was chosen as the first of four additional Next Engineers cities and will help advance the program’s goal of encouraging young people to pursue careers in engineering.
Next Engineers was created by the GE Foundation, now known as the GE Aerospace Foundation, in 2021 to support the development of the next generation of engineers. It provides students ages 13 through 18 the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with GE Aerospace engineers, building awareness and excitement around what’s possible with a career in engineering.
Warsaw Next Engineers programming will include Engineering Discovery, which supports late primary school and early secondary school students, and Engineering Academy, which prepares later secondary school students to think and act like engineers through immersive design challenges, career coaching, and university-readiness workshops. Scholarships will also be offered to eligible students who complete Engineering Academy and pursue engineering degrees at university. Programming will begin in early 2025, engaging an estimated 4,000 students over four years.
“We’re proud of the impact Next Engineers has already demonstrated by reaching 18,000 students around the world since its founding in 2021, and are excited to continue its success in Warsaw,” said GE Aerospace Foundation Board Member and GE Aerospace Chief Diversity Officer Germaine Hunter. “Expanding Next Engineers to Poland will build on 10 years of volunteer efforts here, supported by GE Aerospace employees who engage future generations of engineering professionals as they develop their passions and skills.”
Warsaw was selected using a range of criteria, including GE Aerospace’s employee footprint, the strength of GE Aerospace’s manufacturing and engineering presence, and anticipated volunteer engagement in the program. GE Aerospace in Poland supports the entire lifecycle of aeroengines and products with over 2,000 employees. The Warsaw site has a strong history of supporting educational opportunities for local communities, including classes focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), children’s homes, the Young Explorer Club, and tutoring.
“Over 17 years, Perspektywy has inspired more than 250,000 young women to explore an education in engineering,” said Perspektywy Education Foundation CEO Bianka Siwińska. “We look forward to working with the Next Engineers program and GE Aerospace Foundation to expand this reach and give talented young adults the best possible chance to grow and become the engineers they dream of being.”
Current Next Engineers programs are located in Cincinnati, Ohio; Greenville, South Carolina; Staffordshire, UK and Johannesburg, South Africa. In May, the GE Aerospace Foundation committed $20 million through 2030 to expand Next Engineers and will launch three additional cities in the coming years.
Parents and students interested in learning more about the program can visit https://www.nextengineers.org/locations/warsaw.
Read the Press Release on GEAerospace.com
