World Teachers' Day 2024
La Fondation Dassault Systèmes drives STEM education forward, supporting initiatives that empower teachers and inspire bright futures for students.
Teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the minds of future generations. They not only ignite students' interest in science and technology but also serve as guiding forces in their academic and career pursuits. By equipping students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and mindset, teachers empower them to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
UNESCO World Teachers' Day honors the invaluable contributions of all educators around the world. It's a day to celebrate how teachers are transforming education, nurturing students of all ages while driving educational progress, but also to reflect on the support they need to successfully carry out their vitally important mission.
Empowering Educators, Inspiring Futures
La Fondation Dassault Systèmes is committed to supporting teachers to make a lasting impact on the lives of their students. We support a variety of innovative projects aimed at empowering teachers and enhancing their ability to inspire and train students in STEM, through pedagogical content, resources, and opportunities.
Let's highlight three of these great projects.
Building Bridges between Education and Industry in France
In France, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes is supporting the Professeurs en Entreprise (Bringing Teachers to the Office) program led by our partner, the CGénial foundation, which aims to connect teachers, guidance counselors and school principals with the world of industry and innovation. By facilitating visits to scientific and technological companies, it is providing teachers with firsthand insights into the jobs, skills, and opportunities available in STEM with concrete examples they can share with their students back in class. A way to help them better understand the diversity of STEM careers and inspire scientific vocations.
Since 2022, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes has opened its doors to 185 teachers in 11 sites across France, thanks to the support of Dassault Systèmes volunteers who engage with visiting educators to share their daily work, and their professional and academic journey with passion.
Learn more about the Professeurs en Entreprise project.
Training Atal Tinkering Labs Teachers in India
In India, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes supports the Lend a Hand India non-profit organization with their initiative to empower teachers in Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) to effectively use the lab resources and conduct more engaging and meaningful activities. These labs provide young students across the country with a dynamic workspace to explore technology, collaborate, and learn through hands-on experience. Their role is vital in democratizing access to cutting-edge, technology-driven education, especially in rural settings where they provide students and teachers with a unique opportunity to engage with advanced STEM education.
Through their comprehensive and transformative Training of Trainers program, Lend a Hand India have equipped more than 200 ATL teachers from rural Kolhapur with the skills and technical knowledge they need to revisit their teaching methods, enhancing the learning experience for more than 1500 students from villages. Additionally, interns from local engineering colleges are assisting teachers, helping them with complex activities and real-world, project-based learning. The program also features a series of exhibitions where students showcased their innovative projects addressing local challenges and teachers demonstrated their newly acquired skills.
Meaningful Impact: The AIDFab Project in the US
In the United States, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes is supporting the Assistive and Intelligent Device Fabrication (AIDFab) project led by Clarkson University professors Michael Bazzocchi and Marcias Martinez, which aims to develop advanced assistive devices to help senior citizens live safely and independently in their homes.
Thanks to financial support and the acquisition of new research equipment and technologies within their lab, students and faculty were able to work together on real-life use cases for the well-being of ageing people. By leveraging Dr. Bazzocchi’s expertise in assistive robotics and intelligent control systems and Dr. Martinez’s expertise in smart materials and advanced manufacturing, they were able to train and empower their students to develop fully functional prototypes.
Read the portrait of Urva Ishtiaq, an engineering student who participated in the project.