Engineering an ‘Engineering Revolution’: GE Aerospace Foundation, United Way Bengaluru team up to bring out best in underserved youth

Bengaluru: The GE Aerospace Foundation, in partnership with United Way Bengaluru (UWBe), recently announced the launch of the Next Engineers programme in India, marking its first-ever initiative in the Asia-Pacific region.

Designed as a four-year college and career readiness programme, Next Engineers will reach more than 4,000 students in Bengaluru by 2030, strengthening the future of India’s engineering talent pipeline.

Next Engineers provides students aged 13 to 18 with hands-on learning, exposure to engineering careers, and university readiness workshops, inspiring them to pursue higher education and careers in engineering.

The programme, already impacting over 26,000 students worldwide, aims to broaden the participation of under-represented youth in STEM and create a diverse, future-ready engineering workforce.

“Bengaluru has long been a centre of innovation and engineering excellence, making it a natural fit for our Next Engineers programme,” said Meghan Thurlow, President of the GE Aerospace Foundation and Global Head of Public Affairs at GE Aerospace.

“Through our partnership with United Way Bengaluru, we’re excited to prepare thousands of local students for careers in engineering — part of our ongoing commitment to lift people up in the communities where we live and work,” she added.

The programme will be implemented by United Way Bengaluru, leveraging its 17-year legacy of addressing social issues through community partnerships. Programming will begin in early 2026 and will feature two key modules:

• Engineering Discovery — Interactive sessions for younger secondary school students introducing them to engineering concepts through hands-on projects.
• Engineering Academy — Intensive workshops, design challenges, career coaching, and university-preparation activities for older students. Students completing the Academy who pursue engineering degrees will also have access to scholarships.

“India’s engineering talent is unmatched, and Bengaluru stands as its innovation hub,” said Rajesh Krishnan, CEO of United Way Bengaluru.

“This partnership ensures that students, especially from underserved backgrounds, gain the critical thinking, skills, and confidence to thrive in the engineering world. Together with GE Aerospace Foundation, we can unlock the potential of young minds and contribute to nation building,” he added.

GE Aerospace employees in Bengaluru — home to the company’s 25-year-old India Technology Centre — will play an active role as volunteer mentors, reinforcing the Foundation’s mission of community engagement.

“Next Engineers reflects our deep commitment to inspiring the next generation of engineering talent, and I am immensely proud to see the programme launch in Bengaluru,” said Alok Nanda, Chief Technology Officer at GE Aerospace’s India Technology Centre.

“Our employee volunteers will bring their passion and expertise to nurture future engineers, helping bridge industry skill gaps while shaping a more diverse and robust pipeline,” he added.

With this launch, Bengaluru joins cities like Cincinnati, Ohio and Warsaw, Poland in hosting the programme.

The GE Aerospace Foundation has committed up to $20 million over five years globally to expand Next Engineers through 2030.

Students, families, and schools interested in applying can learn more at: www.nextengineers.org/locations/bengaluru