Celebrating the inaugural Next Engineers Academy Class
Published: 05 September, 2024
Next Engineers, a global career readiness programme working to increase the diversity of young people in engineering, has celebrated the first-ever graduation of Engineering Academy students in Staffordshire
The 32 students from 16 secondary schools across Staffordshire completed the programme - many of whom plan to study engineering at university or pursue engineering apprenticeships with local employers - were joined by family and friends on 1 August to celebrate their achievements. The Inspirational Learning Group is the educational partner for the local Next Engineers programme, which was established in 2021, and GE Vernova engineers and employees from Stafford actively engage with the programme through skill-based volunteering.
“We are so pleased to see our first cohort of students having graduated, and we wish them all the luck in the world for the next stage of their education,” said Vera Silva, Chief Technology & Strategy Officer of GE Vernova’s Electrification Systems businesses. “It’s fantastic to see the positive impact the Next Engineers programme is having, not just in empowering the engineers of tomorrow but encouraging diversity within engineering. We extend our thanks to all those involved in the Engineering Academy.”
Students who complete the Engineering Academy and enrol in a qualified engineering or engineering-related degree or apprenticeship will receive partial scholarships to support them as they continue on their paths to becoming engineers.
"It has been a pleasure to support our first cohort of Academy students and support them throughout their journey,” said Ben Dyer, Co-Founder of The Inspirational Learning Group. “Our team has been so impressed with their dedication and creativity throughout - we can safely say that the future of engineering is in very safe hands! We wish all of our graduates the best of luck as they enter their new chapters, whether that is at university, apprenticeships or employment."
The Engineering Academy is a transformative learning experience designed for students aged 15 to 18. Through a rigorous curriculum, immersive design challenges, and career coaching, participants learn to think and act like engineers.
Key programme highlights:
- Dedication: The Engineering Academy spans three years, with students dedicating 220 hours outside of regular school hours to participate.
- Design challenges: In small teams, students tackle increasingly complex design challenges, mastering the engineering design process.
- Foundational skills: Beyond technical knowledge, students develop essential skills such as communication, teamwork, persistence, time management, and presentation abilities.
- Education and career exploration: Workshops and activities prepare students for their next steps, including university campus tours and interactions with GE Vernova volunteers.
- Scholarships: Students who complete the programme and enrol in engineering degree programmes or engineering apprenticeships receive partial scholarships. Next Engineers anticipates granting at least $2 million (£1.5 million) in scholarships to the inaugural classes of Engineering Academy students worldwide.
Staffordshire was among the first four locations to launch Next Engineers, with a $3.5 million (£2.5 million) investment from the GE Foundation in 2021. To date, Next Engineers in Staffordshire, which also includes Engineering Discovery for ages 13 to 14 and Engineering Experience for ages 14 to 15, has reached more than 6,200 local students.
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