Junior Achievement (JA) Europe today announced a new collaborative initiative with the Micron Foundation that blends entrepreneurship with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) content with an emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI).
The initiative focuses on youth from underserved communities and will benefit approximately 650 students from Italy and Germany.
JA Europe and the Micron Foundation will develop programming that integrates the principles of entrepreneurship with STEM disciplines, including AI. The goal is to help students gain technical expertise and an understanding of the AI field while inspiring them to pursue roles in the technology industry.
In Germany, JA students will participate in a three-day innovation lab and experience hands-on STEM activities, learn methods for generating ideas and developing products, work on business plans and create prototypes for their concepts.
In Italy, students will engage in projects and experiments to establish “small enterprises” to cultivate entrepreneurial skills. Micron volunteers will mentor students as they design products or services and craft business, marketing and sales plans throughout their projects.
Salvatore Nigro, CEO of JA Europe, said, “STEM education is critical for preparing the next generation of Europeans to excel in the digital economy. By blending technical knowledge and entrepreneurial education, we provide youth with a comprehensive skill- and mindset to transform global challenges into opportunities.” He added, “We are excited to embark on this new partnership with the Micron Foundation especially because of its focus on empowering the underserved. This collaboration aims to narrow the digital skills gap, creating more opportunities for youth from diverse backgrounds.”
“The Micron Foundation is steadfast in our commitment to providing access to STEM education through meaningful engagements and partnerships that support underrepresented youth,” said April Arnzen, President of the Micron Foundation and Executive Vice President at Micron Technology. “Through our work with JA Europe, we hope to ignite and nurture a passion for STEM in students from Italy and Germany, setting the stage for them to become the future innovators, problem-solvers and leaders of the future.”
About JA Europe
JA Europe is the largest and leading organisation in Europe dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed. For over 100 years, JA Worldwide has delivered hands-on, experiential learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial health. In the last school year, the JA Europe network provided 6 million learning experiences for youth in online, in person and blended formats.
Press and media contact at JA Europe: Minna Melleri, Chief of Advocacy and Growth (minna@jaeurope.org)
