Next Engineers pushed to the edge of their comfort zones
- Wits University
Over the past three years, the Next Engineers programme has equipped high school learners with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue engineering careers.
On 27 September 2024, the graduation ceremony of the first cohort from the Next Engineers Academy took place at Wits University, hosted by the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment in partnership with the GE Foundation, PROTEC, Kutitiva Foundation, and non-profit FHI 360.
Throughout the programme, learners engaged in increasingly complex design challenges where they had to apply engineering principles to real-world problems. Learners also developed communication, time management, and presentation skills to prepare them for university studies and future careers.
Devotion Chiwasa, a learner from UJ Metropolitan Academy, said, “This programme taught us critical thinking, problem-solving, and how to speak confidently in front of an audience. But perhaps the greatest gift has been the friendships we’ve formed – relationships that will last a lifetime. We’ve shared moments that made us laugh until we cried and cry until we laughed.”
Chiwasa spoke at the graduation event and expressed his gratitude for the experience: “We’ve had the chance to showcase our creativity, collaborate with amazing teams, and push ourselves beyond our comfort zones. In those challenging moments, we discovered our strengths. None of this would have been possible without our sponsors. You didn’t just invest in a programme; you invested in us. Thanks to your support, we’re leaving this experience not just as better students, but as better people, ready to pursue careers in engineering,” he said.
Next Engineers is a global college- and career-readiness programme aimed at increasing diversity in engineering. Launched by the GE Foundation in 2021, it provides students aged 13 to 18 with hands-on experiences in engineering, eventually awarding partial scholarships to pursue higher education.
The programme is active in Johannesburg, Cincinnati, Ohio, Greenville, South Carolina, Stafford, UK, with support from GE Vernova and GE Aerospace Foundation.
It offers three components: Engineering Discovery, Engineering Camp, and Engineering Academy. Through Engineering Discovery, students build awareness of engineering through short, hands-on sessions led by GE volunteers. These activities aim to inspire young people and help them better understand the field.
Joyce Nama, a Civil Engineering Teaching Assistant in the Academy, shared her experience in a LinkedIn post: “I’ve learned so much from these eager students. Watching their growth from Grade 10 to Grade 12 and celebrating their achievements today is truly inspiring. I’m excited to see how they will tackle real-world challenges in the future.”
The programme culminated in a celebration of the learners’ hard work and dedication. Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at Wits, Professor Thokozani Majozi, commended learners’ commitment and encouraged them to continue using their skills to solve real-world problems and contribute to sustainable urban development.