GE Aerospace is set to empower local students in the Capital Region of New York by launching its Next Engineers program in partnership with the Museum of Innovation & Science (miSci), the University at Albany, and NY CREATES. This initiative aims to provide free training to approximately 4,000 students over the next four years, with the goal of fostering the next generation of technology leaders.
The program is designed to engage eighth and ninth graders through hands-on activities and teamwork exercises, facilitated by GE Aerospace engineers. Chris Hunter, President of miSci, emphasized the importance of these interactions. “Part of the process is us bringing kind of a fun, hands-on activity and building teamwork and introducing them to engineering,” he stated. The program will officially commence in early 2026, with miSci coordinating sessions at local schools.
Students from various districts, including the Schenectady City School District, Ballston Spa, Albany, and Cohoes, will participate in this initiative. The program starts with engaging lessons for eighth and ninth graders, while select tenth graders will advance to an engineering academy. This academy will focus on design challenges and workshops aimed at preparing students for college. Notably, those who complete the academy and pursue engineering degrees will also have opportunities for college scholarships.
Global Expansion and Commitment
The Next Engineers program has already made strides in places such as Ohio, South Carolina, England, and South Africa. In 2024, GE Aerospace committed $20 million through 2030 to expand the program into four new locations, including the Capital Region, India, and Poland. This expansion highlights the increasing need for skilled engineers in the workforce.
Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, representing Rotterdam, underscored the importance of such programs in addressing the skills gap in engineering. “The need for engineers has never been greater,” he remarked. “Around the world, the demand for skilled problem-solvers continues to rise, but only about 20% of high school students express interest in these STEM careers,” he added, reinforcing the value of the Next Engineers initiative.
Since its inception, over 26,000 students aged 13 to 18 have engaged with the Next Engineers program globally. Joe Vinciquerra, General Manager and Senior Executive Director at GE Aerospace Research Center, expressed enthusiasm about the program’s launch in New York. He noted, “We’re incredibly proud to join with the University at Albany and the Museum of Innovation and Science in Schenectady to launch Next Engineers right here in New York’s Capital Region, where America’s first industrial research lab was established.”
Empowering Future Innovators
The Next Engineers program not only aims to cultivate engineering talent but also seeks to inspire students to address significant technological challenges facing the world today. By partnering with local educational institutions, GE Aerospace is reinforcing its commitment to education and innovation in engineering.
As this initiative unfolds, the collaboration between GE Aerospace, miSci, and the University at Albany will undoubtedly shape the future of aspiring engineers in the Capital Region, providing them with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven society.