On February 14, the second edition of the Engineering Academy in Warsaw officially began. Over the next two years, a new group of 30 high school students will take on real-world challenges, develop engineering skills, and explore what it truly means to work in the technology sector.
Interest in the program was high, with 98 applications submitted. From this pool, 30 finalists were selected – 10 girls and 20 boys, including participants from Belarus and Ukraine. The group brings together students from both technical and general secondary schools (47% and 53%), united by curiosity and a shared drive to test themselves in real engineering scenarios.
From day one, the focus is on action and collaboration. Participants co-created their ways of working, exchanged perspectives, and reflected on what motivates them. They quickly moved into their first team challenge, where they had to navigate ideas, solve problems together, and make decisions under time pressure – building skills essential both in academia and in future careers.
Alina shares what motivated her to join the program:
“I joined the program to meet new people. I study at an architecture and construction technical school, and I’m in contact with engineers on a daily basis. I would like to get to know the industry from the inside – the engineers, their work – and learn from them what projects really look like in practice.”
Wiktor describes a long-standing interest in engineering:
“I signed up for this program because I wanted to understand what engineering really looks like. I’ve always been interested in space – how it works and how everything functions. I was also motivated by a friend of my mother, who is an engineer. Airplanes have always fascinated me – my father graduated from an aviation technical school and taught me a lot. There has always been something related to aviation in my family, and that really inspired me. My dream has been to design a spacecraft – I used to create designs in my head. I would like to study at the Warsaw University of Technology, at the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering.”
Their perspectives reflect a shared mindset – curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to explore and solve complex problems. Participants want to understand whether engineering is the right path for them, develop problem-solving skills, and collaborate with others who share similar ambitions.
During the kick-off, participants met volunteers from GE Aerospace in Poland, who will support them over the next two years as mentors and guides to the world of engineering – sharing their experience, introducing them to the realities of the industry, and accompanying them through future project challenges.
The next two years will be filled with challenges, teamwork, and continuous learning. For this group, engineering is not just about theory – it’s about finding solutions together.
