Education

4 Ways to Build a STEM Talent Pipeline

Mar 14, 2017 10:15 AM ET
Campaign: GM Diversity
On January 10, 2017 girls from local middle and high school had the opportunity to speak to General Motors executives and engineers as part of the GM/Girls Who Code partnership. Through the GM/GWC partnership, girls from underserved communities will gain increased access to computer science education, mentorship and projects that demonstrate the real-world impact of computing that significantly increases young girls’ interest in pursuing technology and engineering degrees. (Photo by Santa Fabio for General Motors)

4 Ways to Build a STEM Talent Pipeline

General Motors’ long-term success relies on talented teams solving global sustainability challenges and reimagining personal mobility. That’s why the company is passionate about inspiring the next generation of professionals to pursue STEM careers. They can help transform an industry.

Here’s how we’re building the talent pipeline, introducing students to STEM skills early and often.

  1. Investing in the advancement of STEM curricula in schools. The A World In Motion® program engages STEM professionals – including about 2,000 of our own employees – in classrooms for grades K-12 to bring STEM to life with hand-on, team-based activities. In 2018, the AWIM program will grow through the launch of AWIM Keeping Our Networks Secure – a first of its kind cybersecurity-focused curriculum designed to get students ready for IT careers.
  2. Mentor youth and share what it’s like to work in a STEM career. GM partners with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders through a robotics competition that builds STEM skills and inspires innovation, self-confidence and leadership. Girls Who Code is another mentorship program recently backed by GM. Its mission is to help thousands of U.S. middle and high school girls from underserved communities gain more access to computer science education and mentoring.
  3. Leverage materials, software and hardware to challenge students to create a solution to local and global issues. GM provides Chevrolet Camaros for EcoCAR student engineering competitions to reduce vehicle carbon footprints, and Chevrolet Bolt EVs for the AutoDrive Challenge that tasks students with developing and demonstrating a full autonomous driving passenger vehicle.
  4. Go outside to bring the subject to life. Through the GM Global Rivers Environmental Education Network, engineers put on waders with area high school students to monitor water quality in area streams. This program improves scientific knowledge and environmental awareness, sharpens problem-solving skills, and encourages civic action.

GM expects to fill a third of its engineering positions in the next five to 10 years.

“Inspiring the next generation of professionals to pursue STEM subjects and sharpen STEM skills will ultimately help us lead during an exciting and transformational time,” said Mark A Johnson, operational excellence champion, Global Product Integrity, GM.  “We’re looking for creative problem solvers who will make our customers’ lives better and improve our communities through a mobility future that’s electric, connected and autonomous.”