TALENT

INSPIRING CHANGEMAKERS

GE partners with UC to invest $5 million in recruiting a diverse new generation of engineers. –GAIL PAUL

A new program designed by General Electric to increase the diversity of young people choosing engineering careers has selected Cincinnati as one of four inaugural locations for Next Engineers, a global college-readiness program that will provide first-hand engineering experiences to high school students. It will also offer meaningful financial support to eligible students to help fund their pursuit of an engineering education.

GE will invest $5 million over five years here in partnership with the University of Cincinnati to build out the Next Engineers program, hoping to reach and inspire more than 3,500 students in the Cincinnati region. GE launched similar initiatives in cities in South Carolina, South Africa, and England.

Joe Allen, chief diversity officer at GE Aviation, says the program will focus on traditionally underrepresented groups in the engineering field, particularly women and people of color. “If students from those backgrounds aren’t exposed to engineering before college,” he says, “it can be really discouraging to step into a college classroom and not feel ready for that challenge.”

UC College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) Dean John Weidner says Next Engineers represents another tool for UC to further its impact and continue its commitment to underrepresented students through existing programs, such as its 2021 Marian Spencer Scholars Program for high-achieving students at Cincinnati Public Schools. In 2020, CEAS engaged with “We have to connect 1,409 potential students, accord- with stuing to its Inclusive Excellence & Community Engagement Impact Report. dents early to get them

“GE’s program will abso- excited lutely impact Cincinnati tremendously,” Weidner says. “The bottom line for GE and about engineering.” for us as well is we need more engineers. We have to connect with students early to get them excited about engineering.”

Weidner says students say they want careers where they will make a difference, but many claim engineering seems too technical and not focused enough on big-picture challenges. Next Engineers can help change that perception by exposing students to experiences that help them grasp the true role of engineers. “Part of educating them is helping them realize, if we’re going to have livable urban centers, more accessible and affordable health care, or reliable infrastructure, all of that is what engineers do,” Weidner says. Next Engineers offers three programs, including Engineering Academy, for students ages 15-18. All students in Cincinnati who complete the three-year Engineering Academy and enroll in college in an engineering discipline are eligible for a $20,000 GE Foundation scholarship. GE’s Allen says Cincinnati has a chance to set the bar high for the world when it comes to delivering an impactful program. “So, if you have a student in your life, whether it’s your own child, a friend’s child, or a neighbor’s child and if they meet the eligibility criteria and have an interest in engineering,” he says, “we’re counting on people in the community to help us point those students toward this opportunity. We’re on a mission to inspire the next generation of changemakers.”