The US-based
GE Aerospace Foundation has announced a major expansion of its Next Engineers college and career readiness programme, naming Grand Rapids, Michigan, as its newest site. The Foundation will also extend its existing programme in Cincinnati, Ohio, through 2035 and add three further locations to be announced in the coming years.
These steps reinforce the programme’s mission to inspire and prepare young people for careers in engineering. Next Engineers aims to strengthen the pipeline of future engineers by offering students hands-on design challenges, guided learning, and career coaching.
Meghan Thurlow, president of the GE Aerospace Foundation, said: “More than 30,000 students around the world have experienced the power and possibility of engineering through our Next Engineers programme and the dedicated GE Aerospace volunteers who make it possible. With its ties to aerospace, automotive, and other engineering fields, Grand Rapids is a natural fit as we expand our programme with today’s announcement.”
The Foundation will identify an academic partner in late 2026, with programming beginning in early 2027. This will include Engineering Discovery for students aged 13 to 14 and Engineering Academy for students aged 15 to 18. Engineering Discovery introduces younger students to engineering through exploratory, hands-on activities, while Engineering Academy is a two-year programme that immerses students in design challenges and offers scholarships for qualifying graduates.
Dev Rajakrishna, Grand Rapids site leader at GE Aerospace, said: “Our employees are thrilled to welcome the Next Engineers programme to Grand Rapids, where they are looking forward to showing area students what a career in engineering can look like. Bringing Next Engineers to Grand Rapids will expand access to hands-on engineering experiences and help build robust talent pipelines for the future.”
Grand Rapids was selected based on GE Aerospace’s employee footprint, the strength of its local manufacturing and engineering presence, and anticipated volunteer engagement. GE Aerospace has a strong history of supporting STEM education in local communities.
The extension of Next Engineers in Cincinnati, which has graduated nearly 100 Engineering Academy students since its launch in 2021, underscores the programme’s momentum and impact. In 2024, the GE Aerospace Foundation committed $20 million in new funding to expand Next Engineers to four new locations. The programme currently serves students in Cincinnati, Greenville (South Carolina), Staffordshire (UK), Johannesburg (South Africa), Warsaw (Poland), Bengaluru (India), and the New York Capital Region.