The EU is grappling with a shortage of information technology specialists and workers with a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) background, according to data from the European Labour Agency. These skills will only become more important to the EU’s economy in the coming decades.

The GE Aerospace Foundation’s expansion of its Next Engineers programme seeks to help fill the gap. In partnership with the Perspektywy Education Foundation, the project’s goal is to increase the diversity of young people interested in pursuing careers in engineering. It began operating in Warsaw, Poland in January 2025.

Warsaw Next Engineers aims to enroll 4,000 students over four years between the ages of 13 and 18 in the three programmes that comprise the initiative:

• Engineering Discovery helps students aged 13 to 14 build awareness about engineering careers through a variety of exploratory, hands-on activities led by volunteer engineers in classrooms and communities.

• Engineering Camp immerses students aged 14 to 15 in the engineering process through a week-long programme where they can interact with experienced engineering faculty, staff and business leaders as they complete design challenges inspired by real-world scenarios and build an identity as an aspiring engineer.

• Engineering Academy is a three-year, 220-hour initiative that includes a series of immersive design challenges, career coaching and workshops to equip students aged 15 to 18 with the skills to build an engineering identity and career. Those who complete the academy and enrol in a post-secondary engineering degree programme receive a partial scholarship from the GE Aerospace Foundation.

Since its founding in 2021, the Next Engineers initiative   has reached 20,000 students around the world. Warsaw was selected as the most recent site for expansion due to GE Aerospace’s employee footprint of 2,000 people in Poland, the strength of its manufacturing and engineering presence and the company’s strong history of volunteerism and support of educational opportunities for local Polish communities, including STEM classes, support for children’s homes and tutoring.

As noted by Meghan Thurlow, President, GE Aerospace Foundation:

‘We are immensely proud to oversee this next chapter of philanthropic support with a focus on a stronger future workforce. We look forward to expanding our work supporting communities around the globe and advancing the development of a more diverse and skilled industry.’