By: Beth Anne Johnson
This summer, members of the GE Next Engineers PEER & WISE team at Clemson University traveled to Lisbon, Portugal, for a global gathering of educators, industry partners, GE volunteers, and implementation managers from FHI 360. The training and collaboration event united colleagues from South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the University of Cincinnati—all committed to advancing the GE Next Engineers curriculum and inspiring the next generation of innovators.
The sessions focused on the vital link between K–12 education and workforce development, highlighting how early exposure to engineering can help meet the growing global demand for skilled professionals. The Clemson team was proud to share lessons learned from our own programs while also gaining insight from the successes of international peers.
“This work is so important because it creates a pipeline of young people who see themselves in engineering and have the confidence to pursue it,” said Serita Acker, Executive Director of PEER & WISE. “By collaborating globally, we ensure our students are better prepared to step into careers that drive innovation and strengthen communities.”
The GE Next Engineers program continues to be a powerful catalyst, connecting classrooms to careers and giving students the tools they need to imagine—and achieve—a future in engineering.
