The How and Why of Supporting STEM!

July 28th, 2015

What is your company doing to support STEM education and why is it so important?

 

Today’s post is the SafeSourcing Archives.

Companies have begun to put an emphasis on services suppliers offer as well as the commitment they are making to the environment and to the communities around them when making procurement decisions on top considering price.   One of the growing areas of focus for many companies is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education at the junior and senior high school levels as well the college level.  As the workforce begins to show distressing signs of a shortage of skilled workers in the years to come, companies that make the commitment to the youth now can reap huge dividends later and can contribute to a stronger and more qualified workforce here in the United States.

This type of emphasis by suppliers shows that they want to make a commitment to partner with their local communities in a way that can make them valuable partners down the road.  This emphasis should also be a priority for their customers in much the same way “green” initiatives have become so important.   Today we will look at a few ways companies and organizations are working hard to strengthen our youth STEM education.

Make it fun – One of the challenges presented to companies like utility companies that need a level of skill to employ is that the STEM areas of study are perceived as hard or too difficult for today’s generations of children to pursue.  Companies like Pacific Gas & Electric, Gulf Power Company and Ameren have invested millions of dollars in attempts at the K-12 level to develop programs to make these areas of study “fun.”  With the perception changed and interest piqued, children can begin to grow comfortable with STEM studies to the point where they get excited and hungry to learn more.  The ability to generate this change is the key to the programs of training that will lie ahead.

Connect the PartiesSTEMConnector™was created in 2011 to provide a link for those wanting to get involved with improved STEM education with those providers of education with students eager to learn skills that will help them and their future companies to create jobs. Providing this bridge allows companies that need highly skilled workers to begin to educate new generations of students with skills that they will need in the next few years.  These students will fill holes left by a large retiring workforce, and companies can create strong skills and habits before the future employees even come to work.

Volunteer the time – While some companies do not have a corporate mission to support STEM education there are plenty of ways for employees to still contribute to the growing movement of education.  Many universities and non-profit organizations such as A World In Motion, provide ways to volunteer time in a program to help educate youth in ways that make the application of STEM studies real and provide mentors that give students models of who they want to become.  The commitments

are short term and generally require 1-2 hours per week, preparing youth to become the skilled workforce of your company tomorrow.

At SafeSourcing we know companies are looking for ways to give back to their communities and in finding partners who do the same and are positioning themselves in a place to help build the workforce of tomorrow.  For more information on how we can help connect you with companies like this or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.  We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.

We look forward to your comments.

If you thought this page is useful to your friend, use this form to send.
Friend Email
Enter your message