Next Engineers Bengaluru Kicks Off!
United Way of Bengaluru, in collaboration with the GE Aerospace Foundation, has rolled out the Next Engineers initiative in Bengaluru, marking the program’s first launch in India. Designed to nurture future engineers, the initiative introduces school students to core engineering concepts through engaging, hands-on learning experiences outside the traditional classroom.
As part of this effort, Engineering Discovery has begun working with Grade 9 students to help them explore engineering in a fun and accessible way.
112 Learners Practice the Engineering Design Process in Police Public School, Bengaluru!
The program recently kicked off at Police Public School, Bengaluru, where 112 students participated in an interactive session focused on structural design, teamwork, and understanding critical load. Through practical activities, students were encouraged to think creatively, solve problems collaboratively, and connect classroom concepts to real-world applications.
The sessions are structured to build awareness of what engineers do using short, exploratory modules that spark curiosity rather than relying on lectures. By combining hands-on design challenges with exposure to the engineering design process, the collaborative program aims to inspire students to imagine futures in science, technology, and engineering. We hope that by blending learning with real-world context at this early stage, more young people will feel confident and motivated to pursue engineering pathways in the years ahead.
Students from Karnataka Public School K R Puram in Bengaluru Learn Critical Load through Bridge-Building Activity!
As a part of Engineering Discovery, 143 students from Karnataka Public School in Bengaluru had an exciting session focused on critical load, the science behind how and why structures stand strong. What started as playful experimentation quickly turned into moments of realization: a bridge collapsing under too much weight became a lesson in balance, structure, and smart design. There was laughter when models fell, cheers when they held, and deep focus as teams reworked their ideas.
In that space, failure wasn’t discouraging; it was part of the process. Students learned that engineering is not about getting it right the first time; it’s about observing, adjusting, and improving. The bridge-building activity took this learning even further. Armed with sketches, ideas, and everyday materials, students worked in teams to design structures that could hold increasing weight.
This is why the Next Engineers program is so important for children. It makes learning tangible. It builds confidence by showing students they can solve problems. It nurtures critical thinking, teamwork, and resilience, skills that extend far beyond the classroom. For many, it also opens a door to futures they may never have imagined for themselves.
With the support of the GE Aerospace Foundation and FHI 360, Next Engineers is helping transform STEM education from theory on a blackboard into an experience students can see, touch, and feel. The momentum is only growing, and so is the belief among these young learners that they, too, can design solutions for the real world.
