Airbus and the Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC) have partnered with UNESCO to boost diversity in engineering with an award to celebrate the projects doing just that.
The 2017 GEDC Airbus Diversity Award has opened its calls for entries to help shine a light on projects that have encouraged more young people of all backgrounds to study and succeed in engineering.
Three successful finalists will be invited to attend the GEDC Annual Conference in Niagara Falls, Canada, in October 2017, where the recipient of the award will receive $10,000 to help further develop their project, while the two runners up will each receive $1,500 to support the promotion of their project.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=82a-3mn8cQk%3Frel%3D0%26controls%3D0%26showinfo%3D0
The long term goal is to increase diversity among the global community of engineers so that the engineering industry reflects the diversity of the communities it supports, with diversity recognised as a driver for innovation and growth.
“At Airbus we know that a diverse and inclusive culture is an asset”, said Jean Brice Dumont, Airbus executive VP helicopters engineering and patron of the award.
“It boosts the innovative mind-set that underpins the vast technological advances happening in aviation and aerospace today.
“We are committed to developing the next generation of engineering talent and are proud to partner with UNESCO and engineering schools around the world to achieve that.”
“We need more young people from every background and of every profile to acquire the skills the world needs to solve our greatest global challenges, as well as realise the potential of new opportunities,” added Flavia Schlegel, UNESCO assistant director-general for natural sciences.
“I am excited to bring UNESCO’s support to this valuable partnership.”
Last November, the Airbus Diversity Award went to Dr Yacob Astatke, from Morgan State University in the USA, for his impressive introduction of technology and training initiatives across universities in Ethiopia to improve the delivery of engineering education in Africa.
Entries must be in before 10 July, best of luck!
